Validation of the Oral Interaction Strategy Scale for speakers of Chinese as the first language in elementary schools

Abstract

This study validated the Oral Interaction Strategy Scale (OISS) for speakers of Chinese as a first language in elementary schools. The OISS measures students' perceptions of how frequently they use interaction strategies of Chinese as a first language (L1 Chinese). The study involved two studies. In the first study, among 642 pupils, we identified seven categories of interaction strategies in Chinese communication. In the second study, among another 678 pupils, the seven-dimension structure was confirmed. Besides, a second-order factor of interaction strategies was established and the relative importance of each first-order factor to the second-order factor was also examined. The implications for further studies are discussed.