Mohammad N. Khreisat - Department of English Language, Faculty of Arts and Science, Jouf University, Jouf, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad Mugableh - English Department, College of Arts and Science in Tabarjal, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia

Because an understanding of reading attitude is pivotal to reading encouragement, this study investigated the multidimensionality of recreational reading attitude among Jordanian EFL students. A survey of recreational reading attitudes was administered to ۲۲۵ EFL tertiary students at the University of Jordan. The responses to the ۱۰-item survey were factored using (۱) exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and ۲ factor dimensions were obtained for the recreational reading attitude: efferent (cognitive) and aesthetic (affective). Results were, then, validated using (۲) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using IBM Amos ۲۳. Results provide statistical evidence and a confirmation through using mixed statistical approaches (i.e., EFA and CFA) that the recreational reading attitude of EFL students is multidimensional, which will yield a better understanding of how attitudes can affect EFL students’ engagement in reading and choices of reading materials, thus introducing a new definition for recreational reading attitudes to encompass their multidimensional nature.

Multidimensionality of Attitude, Recreational Reading Attitude, Affective Attitude, Cognitive Attitude, Efferent and Aesthetic Reading Attitude