Relationships between Vocabulary Size and the Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies of First Year High School Students Using Structure Equation Modeling

Abstract

Research was conducted to estimate the vocabulary size of first year high school students and to investigate the relationship between the vocabulary size estimates and their vocabulary strategies use. A vocabulary test was developed from JACET 8000 using 4000 words. The test consisted of 100 items. The average vocabulary size of 3 1 1 first year high school students was 1673 words. The reliability coefficient of the test was 0.86. A questionnaire was created to examine the use of vocabulary strategies. The questionnaire consisted of 23 items and was given to the same students. As a result of exploratory factor analysis, three factors were extracted: organization, repetition, and image strategies as shown in the preceding research. The students were divided into three groups based on their vocabulary size estimates. Relationships between vocabulary size estimates and vocabulary strategy use were investigated using structure equation modeling. It was found that vocabulary size estimates correlated with vocabulary strategy use. It was also found that differing vocabulary size estimates each had their own use of a particular or combination of vocabulary learning strategies. Students were informed of their vocabulary size estimates and their use of vocabulary learning strategies to assist them in their vocabulary learning.