Multidimensionality of EFL Recreational Reading Attitudes: An EFA and CFA Approach

Abstract

Because an understanding of reading attitude is pivotal to reading encouragement, this study investigated the multidimensionality of recreational reading attitude among Jordanian EFL students. A survey of recreational reading attitudes was administered to 225 EFL tertiary students at the University of Jordan. The responses to the 10-item survey were factored using (1) exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 2 factor dimensions were obtained for the recreational reading attitude: efferent (cognitive) and aesthetic (affective). Results were, then, validated using (2) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using IBM Amos 23. Results provide statistical evidence and a confirmation through using mixed statistical approaches (i.e., EFA and CFA) that the recreational reading attitude of EFL students is multidimensional, which will yield a better understanding of how attitudes can affect EFL students’ engagement in reading and choices of reading materials, thus introducing a new definition for recreational reading attitudes to encompass their multidimensional nature.