Developing a validity argument for the English placement Fall 2010 Listening test at Iowa State University

Abstract

ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of problem 1 Statement of research questions 4 Organization of the study 4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 5 1. Validation of a test in language testing and assessment 5 1.1. The conception of validity in language testing and assessment 5 1.2. Approaches in validation studies in language testing and assessment 8 1.2.1. The concept of validation in language testing and assessment 8 1.2.2. Main approaches in validation studies in language testing and assessment 9 2. The argument-based validation approach in language testing and assessment .10 2.1. Using interpretative argument in examining validity in language testing and assessment. .10 2.2. Conducting an argument-based validation study in language testing and assessment........ 11 2.3. Building a validity argument in language testing and assessment 13 2.4. A critical review of the argument-based validation approach 17 2.5. The argument-based validation approach in practice so far 19 3. English placement test (EPT) in language testing and assessment 28 3.1.English placement test (EPT) 28 3.2.Validation of an EPT 31 3.3.Testing and assessment of listening in second language 33 4. Summary 36 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 39 1. Context of the study 39 1.1. Description of the EPT test at Iowa State University (ISU) 39 1.1.1. About the test 39 1.1.2. Test purpose 42