Qualitative Research on the Format of Kanji Test Administrations : Establishing a Structural Model Designed for Cooperative Learning-Based Kanji Tests

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate how learners perceive and respond to kanji tests based on cooperative learning and, accordingly, develop a new structural model designed to implement kanji tests effectively. The methodology is as follows : (1) school children's handwritten notes regarding kanji tests were transcribed into an electronic format ; (2) similar elements in the text data corresponding to individual research interests were extracted as "Concepts" ; (3) each generated concept was given a distinct definition ; (4) multiple concepts with similar meanings were grouped as categories under a superordinate concept ; and (5) sticky notes were utilized to grasp the interrelationships among these concepts, and provisional models were repeatedly produced and revised. Based on these analyses, a structural model for cooperative learning-based kanji tests (CLKT) was designed. In conclusion, a cooperative learning format was found to be an effective design for implementing kanji tests.