Table 5 Comparison between the numbers and types of words used in white (W) and ethnic minority (EM) students' essays.
Dimensions | Word categories | Type of word | Group with highest frequency | t | Mean use by all students | Mean Difference between groups | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard linguistic dimensions | % of dictionary words | Â | EM | -2.0 | 75.5 | -1.2 | 0.04 |
| Â | Total pronouns | Pronoun | EM | -2.8 | 10.9 | -0.9 | 0.01 |
Psychologi-cal processes | Affective or emotional processes | Optimism and energy (certainty, pride, win) | W | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Â | Cognitive processes | Cognitive processes | EM | -2.2 | 0.1 | -0.5 | 0.03 |
| Â | Sensory and perceptual processes | Hear (heard, listen, sound) | EM | -3.5 | 0.9 | -0.3 | <0.001 |
| Â | Social Processes | Communication (talk, share converse) | EM | -2.4 | 2.2 | -0.4 | 0.02 |
Relativity | Motion | Motion (walk, move, go) | EM | -2.5 | 0.9 | -0.2 | 0.01 |
Personal Concerns | Occupation | Job or work (employ, boss, career) | W | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.03 |
| Â | Metaphysical issues | Religion (God, church, rabbi) | EM | -2.1 | 0.2 | -0.2 | 0.04 |