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Cognitive development, self-efficacy, and wearable technology use in a virtual reality language learning environment: A structural equation modeling analysis

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Abstract

This action research study has two aims: (i) to develop a wearable virtual reality language-learning platform for English for specific purposes and (ii) to examine student learning effectiveness and the relationship between self-efficacy and behavioral intention. The participants are 131 university students in Taiwan. A model of wearable virtual reality language-learning based on structural equation modeling is built. A path analysis indicates that self-efficacy directly influences students’ perceptions of ease of use of the wearable virtual reality technology and indirectly influences perceived usefulness, attitude, and behavioral intention. Student self-efficacy is slightly above the moderate level. Gender and English proficiency have an effect on student self-efficacy and behavioral intention, whereas students’ online and virtual reality learning experiences have no significant effect on these variables. This new environment is shown to facilitate student learning: the pretest and posttest results indicate improvements in lexical and semantic knowledge, reading comprehension, and syntax. The study implies that since self-efficacy is a crucial determinant in student technology use, educators should enhance student self-efficacy in order to encourage them to try innovative technology.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study available at the following link. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14bE5127rnwTfr1JpuA-p7vfTJBCbN7PJ?usp=sharing

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Acknowledgements

This work was entirely supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (Projects Ref. No. MOST 107-2410-H-262-003; MOST 107-2622-H-262 -002 -CC3; and MOST107-2622-H-262-001-CC3).

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  1. Department of Multimedia and Game Science, Graduate Institute in Multimedia and Game Science, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, No.300,Sec.1,Wanshou Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan City, 33306, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chun-Chia Hsu & Chih-Yung Lin

  2. Department of Applied Foreign Languages, Graduate Institute in International Tourism & M.I.C.E. Industries, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yu-Li Chen & Wei-chih Lien

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The research ethics approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee at the National Chengchi University in Taiwan. The approval number is NCCU-REC-201805-E034.

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Hsu, CC., Chen, YL., Lin, CY. et al. Cognitive development, self-efficacy, and wearable technology use in a virtual reality language learning environment: A structural equation modeling analysis. Curr Psychol 41, 1618–1632 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02252-y

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