A Statistical Interpretation of The Learners’ Input, Intake and Output in Two Communicative Tasks Through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Ken Siu-Kei Chen1, Josef Chi-Leung Chan1, Him-Man Hui1, Wing-Sat Chan2

(1. Chinese Language Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; 2. Independent Scholar)

Abstract: This paper presents a defined framework of the notion of “communicative task” and observes, in statistical terms (SEM and t-test), how 140 university students go through the process of “input”, “intake” and “output” in performing two communicative tasks, i.e., to participate in group discussion, and to write a post meeting notice, as required. Findings show that the activities of “input-intake-output” are interrelated with each other such as: similar level of complexity in “input” may have significant differences in “output” performance; it is the “intake” that forms the basis for “output”; however, there are unexpected discrepancies between “intake” and “output”, and the like. Findings also confirm the validity of the framework as proposed for this study, and most of all, the employment of SEM proves to be a useful device in describing the complexity of communicative task for higher level of objectivity.

Key words: communication task, input-intake-output, structural equation modeling (SEM)