Easier and More Enjoyable: Recognizing Mistakes by English Foreign Language (EFL) Learners Across Gender

Abstract

Daniel Kahneman asserted that recognizing others’ mistakes is both easier and more enjoyable. The current study aimed at testing this claim in the context of English language learning among Iranians with regards to grammar tests. To this end, 150 Iranian advanced English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners (75 males and 75 females) took a grammar test consisting of 25 error-recognition and 25 multiple-choice items. They were also asked to report the amount of enjoyment they experienced while answering each type of items. A series of independent samples t-test revealed that male learners performed significantly better on the first type of items while females outscored males in the second type. Moreover, males reported more enjoyment for error-recognition items while the exact opposite was the case for female participants. In other words, the findings revealed that, taking into account the modifications that had to be made to operationalize concepts in this study, Kahneman’s statement held ground for male language learners but not females. The bottom line is that this difference was observed across gender and further investigations might shed more light on the reasons behind it. Meanwhile, the results suggest that test designers should put more thought into putting different types of items on grammar tests to avoid tipping the scale to the advantage of one gender.