Writing self-efficacy and linguistic diversity of first-year composition students: An exploratory study

Abstract

This study investigates the potential relationship between student writing self-efficacy and marginalized linguistic identities. A total of sixty-nine first-year composition students across two semesters responded to surveys which asked about linguistic habits and perceptions along with writing skills self-efficacy. Results were limited by sample size, and did not find statistically significant relationships in the data, though a tentative correlation is evident between high writing self-efficacy and tendency to describe one’s dialect of nurture using terms associated with standard language ideology (“normal,” “general,” etc.). All students, both basic writers and mainstreamed writers, reported strongest average writing self-efficacy scores for demonstrating reasoning and evidence to support a claim. Qualitative data also shows the linguistic diversity of first-year composition students in terms of native language and nonstandardized dialects spoken. Results and implications are discussed along with recommendations for future research and the need for instructors to nurture the writing selfbeliefs of all students.