project proposed but not funded or implemented
This testing project involves research into how assessment scales are developed and applied in foreign language assessment. Scales are important in much performance assessment but are frequently misunderstood. More specifically, there is a great deal of misunderstanding in foreign language assessment about the nature, role, and characteristics of just what scales represent. We will carry out a full review of the literature on language assessment rating scales and their use in previous research and other programs. These scales will be incorporated into the ratings of the productive response portions of the Web-based tests. In addition, we will produce a manual describing how scales should best be developed and reported in foreign language education contexts, including as many annotated example scales as are available.
2004-05
- Carry out literature review on language assessment rating scales
2005-06
- Produce a manual on the use of language assessment rating scales, send for review, revise, and publish