Conducting and Interpreting Canonical Correlation Analysis in Foreign Language Education Research

This article introduces the statistic principles,SPSS operations and an applied example of Canonical Correlation Analysis(CCA).CCA is a multivariate statistical model that facilitates the study of interrelationships among multiple independent variables and multiple dependent variables.In CCA,there are three layers of analysis:(1) to explore whether pairs of canonical variates are significantly related;(2) to find out how the predictor variables relate to their respective canonical variates,and how the criterion variables relate to their respective canonical variates;and(3) to see how the variables on each side relate to the canonical variates on the other side.The article concludes by pointing out the implications and applicability of CCA for foreign language education research.