外语口语考试的效度和信度研究述评

Studies of Validity and Reliability in Foreign Language Oral Tests: A Critical Review

外语口语考试旨在对考生的口语能力进行公正、合理的测量,从而准确地反映考生的口语水平.但是,口语考试的效度和信度受到多方面因素的影响,例如,口试形式、任务内容、评分标准和考官素质等.本文查阅研究了国内外近10年来在外语测试及外语学习研究期刊上发表的相关文献,对口语考试的效度和信度研究进行了评述.结合目前国内开展的英语口试实践和研究,提出改进建议.

A foreign language oral test aims to provide a fair and valid measure of a testee’s oral proficiency so as to give an accurate description of his/her oral communicative ability. However, the validity and reliability of a test depends on many factors such as test methods, given tasks, rating scales and rater characteristics. Based on a critical review of studies published in the past decade in research journals in language learning and testing at home and abroad, this paper examines the issue of validity and reliability in foreign language oral tests. The paper also discusses English oral tests in China and proposes ways for further improvement.