Creativity, Learning Style, and Metacognition as Predictors of Iranian EFL Learners’ Writing Accuracy and Fluency in a Mixed-Methods Study (مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

چکیده

Creativity, learning style, and metacognition are significant factors in education. Many research studies have been conducted on these three factors, but few studies have been carried out on the correlations among these factors and second/foreign language (L2) writing accuracy and fluency. Therefore, this mixed-methods study tried to clarify the best predictors of writing accuracy and fluency among these three factors. To achieve this purpose, 120 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners were selected based on the results of the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT). Three types of Questionnaires were used to collect data. In addition, the participants wrote about the intended topics to check their writing accuracy and fluency. Moreover, the accuracy and fluency frameworks were applied to rate writings. Further, a semi-structured interview was utilized. To analyze the data, the multiple regression analysis was run. The findings indicated all these three factors were the best predictors of writing accuracy among intermediate learners, while metacognition was the best predictor of writing accuracy among advanced learners. In addition, learning style and metacognition were the best predictors of writing fluency among advanced learners. This study has some significant implications for learning. The most important implication is that learners can become aware of their creativity levels, learning styles, and metacognitive activities. In addition, the findings can enrich the literature concerning the predictors of writing accuracy and fluency among these three variables.