Analysis of Children's Written and Oral Language.

RESULTS cont.
2.6 PERFORMANCE ACROSS ETHNIC GROUPS

For most of the categories of oral language, the performance of Maori and Pacific Island students as a group was not statistically different from the rest of the sample. However, a comparison of speech pronunciation across ethnic groups found that Maori and Pacific Island students scored less well than the rest of the population in the use of standard pronunciation. This was found to be statistically significant (t = -2.2, DF = 51, p < .05). Maori and Pacific Island students also scored significantly less well than the rest of the sample in the use of correct syntax (verb, tense agreements) in their speech. This difference was also statistically significant (t = -4.5, DF = 59, p < .0001).

While overall writing performance of Maori and Pacific Island students as a group was not statistically different from the rest of the sample, there were several statistically significant variations in the writing performance of these students on several aspects of writing. Maori and Pacific Island students achieved significantly lower scores both for establishing a personal voice in writing (t=-2.1, DF 63, p < .05) and for adhering to the assigned writing topic (t = -2.5, DF = 63, p < .05) in the writing task, as compared the rest of the student sample.

   
Table 14: Mean Scores on Aspects of Overall Oral and Overall Writing Performance by Ethnic Group
 
Ethnic Group
Oral Performance
Writing Performance
  Year 4 Year 8   Year 4 Year 8
Maori/Pacific Island 16 17 Maori/Pacific Island 16 16
Other 16 15 Other 17 15

NOTE: No significant variation in performance was found across ethnic group.
The student self assessment of writing also revealed no statistically significant difference across ethnic group in terms of writing enjoyment.
   
Table 15: Frequency Distribution of Student Enjoyment of Writing by Ethnic Group
 
"I enjoy writing ... "
Maori/P. Island
Other
"Heaps"
67%
17%
"Mostly"
22%
40%
"Some"
11%
26%
"Not"
0%
17%
The overall writing and oral performances of Maori and Pacific Island students was compared against the rest of the sample and was found not to be statistically different from the rest of the student sample.
   
2.7 OVERALL STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN RELATION TO SCHOOL DECILE BAND
Variations in overall writing and overall oral performance were found to be statistically significant only in relation to school decile band. Post hoc analyses indicated that students from top decile schools (Deciles 8-10) tended to score better in overall writing performance than did students from either middle (Deciles 4-7) of low band schools (Deciles 1-3). Students from top decile schools (Deciles 8-10) tended to score better in overall oral performance than did students from low band schools (Deciles 1-3).
   
Table 16: Student Enjoyment of Writing by Decile Band
 
Student Self-Assessment
School Decile Band
"I enjoy writing ..."
Decile 1-3
Decile 4-7
Decile 8-10
"Heaps"
55%
42%
17%
"Mostly"
15%
35%
50%
"Some"
30%
23%
23%
"Not"
0%
0%
6%

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