DISCRIMINATORY ANALYSIS IN THE STUDY OF THE RESULTS OF THE OLYMPIAD OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
The article reflects the authors’ experience in using the method of statistical analysis for studying the final results of the participants of the All-Russian Olympiad for School Students, in this particular case the one held in French language. The main aim of the research is to verify by the means of discriminant analysis whether the procedure for determining the winners and runners-up of the All-Russian Olympiad for School Students is in accordance with the requirements established by the Central Organizing Committee. Among the indicators (predictors) studied were the scores of the participants obtained for Vocabulary and Grammar Test, Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Writing Test and Speaking Test. Apart from using the method of discriminant analysis, the researchers have studied the results applying the methods of descriptive statistics and correlational analysis. Correlational and discriminant analyses have confirmed the fact that each part of the Olympiad tests different skills and thus does not overlap with the others. Consequently, it has been proved that the Olympiad’s tests form a coherent system that permits proper differentiation between the participants, so that, by and large, one can affirm that the procedure for determining the winners and runners-up is in accordance with the regulatory documents, as far as the All-Russian Olympiad for School Students is concerned.