درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This quantitative correlational study explored the effects of different types of dynamic assessment on the writing proficiency of Iraqi female EFL learners. Fifty-four upper-intermediate female students, aged 17-25, from the Global English Institute in Baghdad, Iraq, participated in the study. The participants were selected based on their performance in the Oxford Placement Test (OPT) and were subsequently divided into three groups: interactionist experimental, interventionist experimental, and control. The study employed several instruments, including a participation consent form, the OPT, a writing pre-test and post-test, and writing practices administered during the treatment phase. The intervention covered a full semester, with each group receiving tailored instructional strategies. The interactionist group focused on the Dynamic Mediation Process, while the interventionist group employed targeted interventions based on individual needs. The results, analyzed through pre- and post-tests, demonstrated the efficacy of dynamic assessment techniques in enhancing writing skills, suggesting their potential for broader application in EFL contexts.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy in reducing self-handicapping behaviors and improving the quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 children diagnosed with ASD, who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 15) receiving Sandplay Therapy or the control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. The intervention consisted of eight 90-minute sessions conducted over eight weeks. Self-handicapping behaviors were measured using the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS), and quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), both of which demonstrated established validity and reliability. Assessments were conducted at pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, with post-hoc comparisons conducted using the Bonferroni test. The results indicated a significant reduction in self-handicapping behaviors in the experimental group from pre-test (M = 42.85, SD = 4.31) to post-test (M = 31.76, SD = 3.76) and further at follow-up (M = 29.45, SD = 3.45), while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Similarly, quality of life improved significantly in the experimental group, with scores increasing from pre-test (M = 52.12, SD = 5.12) to post-test (M = 63.45, SD = 4.78) and follow-up (M = 67.32, SD = 4.50), whereas the control group remained stable. ANOVA results confirmed significant main effects of time and group, as well as a significant interaction effect (p < 0.05). Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons indicated that improvements were sustained at follow-up. Sandplay Therapy is an effective intervention for reducing self-handicapping behaviors and enhancing the quality of life in children with ASD, with sustained benefits observed at follow-up. These findings highlight the potential of nonverbal, expressive therapies in supporting emotional regulation and adaptive functioning in children with ASD.

Pragmatic competence, a fundamental component of language ability, involves understanding a speaker’s intended meaning through various communicative functions. Among these functions, speech acts such as refusals and complaints play a crucial role in everyday interactions, allowing interlocutors to convey information and perform social actions. This study examines the production of refusal and complaint speech acts by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, addressing a gap in previous research that has often overlooked the potential influence of learners’ language proficiency, social status, gender, and mother tongue. Through purposive sampling, 120 participants were selected to respond to 10 role-play scenarios designed to elicit refusals and complaints. The data were analyzed qualitatively to identify patterns in speech act production. The findings reveal that most participants favored indirect strategies when expressing refusals and complaints. Moreover, the study found no significant effects of language proficiency, sociocultural background, mother tongue, or gender on how EFL learners produce these speech acts. These results contribute to a better understanding of pragmatic competence in EFL contexts and suggest that these sociolinguistic factors may have less impact on refusal and complaint strategies than previously assumed.