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A SmartPLS4-Based CB-SEM Confirmatory Factor Analysis: A Case of Speaking Needs for Chinese Business English Undergraduates

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Title: A SmartPLS4-Based CB-SEM Confirmatory Factor Analysis: A Case of Speaking Needs for Chinese Business English Undergraduates
Language: English
Authors: Ke Hu (ORCID 0000-0002-0192-0955), Asmaa AlSaqqaf (ORCID 0000-0002-2074-4328)
Source: Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics. 2025 8(1).
Availability: Castledown Publishers. Ground Level, 470 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia. Tel: +61-3-7003-8355; e-mail: contact@castledown.com; Web site: https://castledown.online/journals/ajal/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Factor Analysis, Business English, English for Special Purposes, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Barriers, Higher Education, Speech Communication, Oral Language, Teaching Methods, College Second Language Programs, Rating Scales, Undergraduate Students, Structural Equation Models, Student Attitudes, Cognitive Style, Educational Needs, Instructional Effectiveness, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: China
ISSN: 2209-0959
Abstract: Over the past decade, there has been an increasing emphasis on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within China's higher education language programs. However, the shift towards ESP presents a multifaceted challenge, particularly for business English teaching at higher education, where speaking proficiency is crucial yet often falls below expectations. Considering these issues, the authors of this study developed a scale based on relevant literature to pinpoint students' needs for Oral Business English (OBE) instruction, and to explore the interplay among constructs within the scale that define these needs. This quantitative study employed a two-phase approach, utilizing separate datasets and different sample sizes of Chinese business English undergraduates selected through simple random sampling. Phase one (N = 52) leveraged SPSS 29 for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while phase two (N = 396) utilized SmartPLS4 for covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) in confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings reveal that the undergraduate respondents grapple with a total of five distinct needs related to OBE instruction. These include three target needs: difficulties in oral communication, oral challenges in collaborative engagement, and required speaking activities. Additionally, there are two learning needs: perceived learning styles and perceived course satisfaction. Significantly, as perceived by these undergraduate respondents, each of these needs was found to have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of OBE instruction in China.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1465116
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: A SmartPLS4-Based CB-SEM Confirmatory Factor Analysis: A Case of Speaking Needs for Chinese Business English Undergraduates
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ke+Hu%22">Ke Hu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0192-0955">0000-0002-0192-0955</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Asmaa+AlSaqqaf%22">Asmaa AlSaqqaf</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2074-4328">0000-0002-2074-4328</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Australian+Journal+of+Applied+Linguistics%22"><i>Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics</i></searchLink>. 2025 8(1).
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  Data: Castledown Publishers. Ground Level, 470 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia. Tel: +61-3-7003-8355; e-mail: contact@castledown.com; Web site: https://castledown.online/journals/ajal/
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  Data: 19
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Analysis%22">Factor Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+English%22">Business English</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+for+Special+Purposes%22">English for Special Purposes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Instruction%22">Second Language Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Communication%22">Speech Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Language%22">Oral Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Methods%22">Teaching Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Second+Language+Programs%22">College Second Language Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rating+Scales%22">Rating Scales</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+Equation+Models%22">Structural Equation Models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Style%22">Cognitive Style</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Needs%22">Educational Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: 2209-0959
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  Data: Over the past decade, there has been an increasing emphasis on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within China's higher education language programs. However, the shift towards ESP presents a multifaceted challenge, particularly for business English teaching at higher education, where speaking proficiency is crucial yet often falls below expectations. Considering these issues, the authors of this study developed a scale based on relevant literature to pinpoint students' needs for Oral Business English (OBE) instruction, and to explore the interplay among constructs within the scale that define these needs. This quantitative study employed a two-phase approach, utilizing separate datasets and different sample sizes of Chinese business English undergraduates selected through simple random sampling. Phase one (N = 52) leveraged SPSS 29 for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while phase two (N = 396) utilized SmartPLS4 for covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) in confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings reveal that the undergraduate respondents grapple with a total of five distinct needs related to OBE instruction. These include three target needs: difficulties in oral communication, oral challenges in collaborative engagement, and required speaking activities. Additionally, there are two learning needs: perceived learning styles and perceived course satisfaction. Significantly, as perceived by these undergraduate respondents, each of these needs was found to have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of OBE instruction in China.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1465116
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Factor Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business English
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English for Special Purposes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Second Language Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Oral Language
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      – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods
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      – SubjectFull: College Second Language Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Rating Scales
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      – SubjectFull: Structural Equation Models
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Style
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Needs
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      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: China
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      – TitleFull: A SmartPLS4-Based CB-SEM Confirmatory Factor Analysis: A Case of Speaking Needs for Chinese Business English Undergraduates
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