Journal Article

The Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q): Assessing Language Profiles in Bilinguals and Multilinguals

Kaushanskaya, Margarita, Blumenfeld, Henrike K, Marian, Viorica

2007

Overview

Contact author: Viorica Marian, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. E-mail: v-marian{at}northwestern.edu . Purpose: To develop a reliable and valid questionnaire of bilingual language status with predictable relationships between self-reported and behavioral measures. Method: In Study 1, the internal validity of the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q) was established on the basis of self-reported data from 52 multilingual adult participants. In Study 2, criterion-based validity was established on the basis of standardized language tests and self-reported measures from 50 adult Spanish–English bilinguals. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were established on healthy adults whose literacy levels were equivalent to that of someone with a high school education or higher. Results: Factor analyses revealed consistent factors across both studies and suggested that the LEAP-Q was internally valid. Multiple regression and correlation analyses established criterion-based validity and suggested that self-reports were reliable indicators of language performance. Self-reported reading proficiency was a more accurate predictor of first-language performance, and self-reported speaking proficiency was a more accurate predictor of second-language performance. Although global measures of self-reported proficiency were generally predictive of language ability, deriving a precise estimate of performance on a particular task required that specific aspects of language history be taken into account. Conclusion: The LEAP-Q is a valid, reliable, and efficient tool for assessing the language profiles of multilingual, neurologically intact adult populations in research settings. KEY WORDS: bilingualism, self-assessment, second language, language proficiency, questionnaire development CiteULike     Connotea     Del.icio.us     Digg     Facebook     Reddit     Technorati     Twitter     What's this?

• Publisher: ASHA,American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Adults / Age Factors / Behavior / Bilingual people / Bilingualism / Competence / Correlation analysis / Criteria / Diachronic Linguistics / English / English language / Eye movements / Factor Analysis / Female / Higher education / Humans / Internal validity / Language / Language acquisition / Language and languages / Language Aptitude / Language assessment / Language disorders / Language Enrichment / Language history / Language Proficiency / Language status / Language Tests / Language Tests - standards / Linguistics / Literacy / Male / Multilingualism / Profiles / Questionnaires / Reading / Reading Skills / Regression Analysis / Reliability / Reproducibility of Results / Second Language Learning / Secondary education / Secondary schools / Self Evaluation / Self-Assessment / Spanish / Spanish language / Speech / Speech Therapy / Statistical analysis / Studies / Surveys and Questionnaires - standards / Test Validity and Reliability / Tests, problems and exercises / Validity