PROBING THE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF LLAMA_D AS A MEASURE OF IMPLICIT LEARNING APTITUDE

Yuichi Suzuki

doi:10.1017/s0272263120000704

Abstract

AbstractA subtest of the LLAMA test battery (LLAMA_D) has been proposed as a potential test of implicit learning aptitude. To improve its construct validity, in the present study, the original LLAMA_D (a) instructions for incidental learning were modified, and (b) confidence ratings of test responses and (c) reaction time (RT) measurements were added. This revised LLAMA_D was administered along with the other LLAMA subtests (LLAMA-B, -E, and -F). Unconscious knowledge that may (not) result from the exposure was assessed through the relationship between the accuracy/RT and confidence ratings. The results suggest that LLAMA_D accuracy largely reflects conscious retrieval of previously heard sound sequences. However, an index derived from the LLAMA_D RT measure (coefficient of variance) was associated with an aspect of oral fluency, which is presumably dependent on proceduralization. Several recommendations are proposed to redesign and extend LLAMA_D as a potential aptitude test for proceduralization.

Highlights

Renewed interest in aptitude in the context of second language (L2) acquisition has led to several recent studies exploring this concept (Granena et al, 2016; Wen et al, 2019)
664 Yuichi Suzuki an aptitude test battery is an integral part of aptitude research, the LLAMA test is increasingly being used, in part because it is language independent and can be administered to all individuals who can read the Roman alphabet
Descriptive statistics and reliability indexed by Cronbach’s alpha pertaining to all LLAMA tests assessed in the present study are provided in Appendices A and B in the Online Supplementary File

Summary

Introduction

Renewed interest in aptitude in the context of second language (L2) acquisition has led to several recent studies exploring this concept (Granena et al, 2016; Wen et al, 2019). As. 664 Yuichi Suzuki an aptitude test battery is an integral part of aptitude research, the LLAMA test is increasingly being used, in part because it is language independent and can be administered to all individuals who can read the Roman alphabet. As LLAMA was originally developed for exploratory and non-high-stakes purposes (Meara, 2005), it is necessary to assess its reliability and validity. Such investigations have recently commenced, and potential and limits are gradually emerging (Bokander & Bylund, 2019; Granena, 2013a, 2019; Rogers et al, 2017; Yalçın et al, 2016)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion