Modeling the Continuance Intention to Use Automated Writing Evaluation Among Chinese EFL Learners

• Published in: SAGE open Vol. 11; no. 4
• Main Author: Li, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2021; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Automation; Computer Assisted Instruction; Computer Literacy; English (Second Language); English Learners; Expectation; Foreign Countries; Intention; Persistence; Predictor Variables; Second Language Learning; Self Efficacy; Structural Equation Models; Student Satisfaction; Undergraduate Students; Usability; Value Judgment; Writing Evaluation; China; expectation confirmation model; perceived ease of use; Automated Writing Evaluation; computer self-efficacy
• DOI: 10.1177/21582440211060782
• ISSN: 2158-2440

Despite the growing attention being paid to the use of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) in China, it is still uncertain what factors lie behind EFL (English-as-a-foreign-language) learners’ continuance intention to use it. To this end, by adding two external factors (i.e., computer self-efficacy and perceived ease of use) to the expectation confirmation model (ECM), we surveyed 345 Chinese EFL learners and tested a number of proposed hypotheses using their response data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results demonstrated that four factors directly influenced EFL learners’ continuance intention to use AWE, of which perceived ease of use was the most significant factor. Furthermore, confirmation was the most important factor impacting on EFL learners’ satisfaction and perceived ease of use of AWE. Perceived ease of use of AWE played an important role in influencing EFL learners’ perceived usefulness of AWE. Implications regarding the findings were also discussed.