校本英语分级考试的构念效度研究——以QDAU英语分级考试为例

An Investigation into the Construct Validity of an In-House Placement Test:A Case Study of QDAU English Placement Test

本文在回顾语言测试领域构念效度理论和研究的基础上,采用定量和定性分析相结合的方法检验了某所高校所开发的校本英语分级考试的构念效度。研究结果表明,该校本英语分级考试的试卷内部结构一致性不太理想,试卷的构念主要表现为两个因子,与考试大纲规定考核的构念基本一致,但是考试的分数中仍存在构念表现不足现象。尽管大多数受试者对考试的整体效度持肯定态度,但是个别测试项目的效度却未得到多数受试的认可,而且问卷调查的结果也显示出他们对考核交际能力的需求。文章认为,考试构念的界定应综合考虑受试的实际语言需求和考试的可操作性,考试开发的过程中应该开展相应的效度研究,以确保考试结果的可靠性。

Based on a review of the theories and investigations concerning construct validity in language testing,this paper investigated the construct validity of an in-house English placement test by the adoption of quantitative and qualitative methods.The result showed that the internal consistency of the test paper was not perfect enough.The test was mainly represented with two constructs,which was basically consistent with the test syllabus,but the construct specified by the syllabus was not fully represented.Although a great majority of the test takers held a positive attitude towards the face validity of the whole test,a negative attitude was held towards the validity of certain tasks,and the test takers' responses to the questions of the questionnaire demonstrated their awareness of the importance of developing communicative language ability.This paper then suggested that the test construct should be specified by taking the test takers' real language needs and the practicality of the test into consideration and highlighted the necessity of conducting validation research in order to ensure the reliability of the test score.