The whole network approach to understanding language contact reporting inconsistency in peer interactions

Language contact in peer interactions during study abroad has drawn considerable attention from applied linguists and educators. Scholars have developed various tools to collect language contact and social interaction information, such as the Language Contact Profile, the Language Log, and the Social Interaction Questionnaire. This paper employs a whole network design with peer evaluation to collect data on social interaction, use of languages, perceived language proficiency, and total time spent using different languages among 23 students with diverse backgrounds. These students were enrolled in an English-medium program in China that caters exclusively to international students. Findings show that the whole network approach can effectively cross-validate students’ self-reported language use and proficiency alongside their social interactions. The paper also offers several strategies, rooted in the whole network approach, to detect potential inconsistencies in these self-reported measures that warrant further investigations.