THE EFFECTS OF THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS ON COLLABORATIVE L2 SUMMARY WRITING

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between the number of participants in summary writing and the quality of their final summary writing. A total of 52 participants aged 16, participated in this four week, mixed-method study. The participants’ overall scores and analytic scores were analysed with paired t-test (individual and collaborative group) and independent t-test (pair and groups of four). The paired t-test results for the overall scores revealed that collaborative writing improves students’ final summary writing and the analytic scoring revealed that the participants in the collaborative groups had improved in three out of five components. The independent t-test results for the overall score showed no significant improvements but there were improvements shown by groups of four in the mean score value. On the other hand, the analytic scoring results revealed that the participants in groups of four had improved in all five components. The majority reacted positively and agreed that the collaborative task had improved their vocabulary knowledge compared to grammar and content.