基于混合研究方法的考生对校本分级考试态度研究

Test takers' attitude towards a school-based placement test——A mixed-method approach

分级考试作为大学英语分级教学的"第一步",与后续分级教学成效有着密切联系。从考试文本角度进行分级考试效度验证的研究较多,但从测试利益相关者(stakeholder)尤其是考生角度进行效度验证的研究较少。本文运用混合研究方法调查某高校考生对校本分级考试态度。研究发现,考生对校本分级考试的态度呈多样性。一方面,他们认为分级考试信息透明度较高、考试题型设计比较合理、考试对其水平区分合理、考试实施过程令人满意;另一方面,他们认为分级考试听力难度大,对部分考生不公平,分级考试对大学英语分级学习有一定反拨作用,但作用不明显。另外,在所有的考生态度因素中,只有考试焦虑与分级考试成绩负相关。最后本文提出了改进校本分级考试的建议。

Closely linked to level-based teaching,the English placement test has been validated from the perspective of the test paper itself but few studies have been conducted from that of the test takers.The current research investigated test takers attitudes towards a school-based placement test and found that they held a variety of attitudes towards the test.On one hand,they thought that the test-related information was transparent,test items were well-designed,the test administration was satisfying,and more importantly that the test placed them well into different levels of English learning;on the other hand,they stated that the listening part in the test was quite difficult,which was unfair to those who have not received any training in their high school and that though the test exerted some positive washback on their subsequent English learning,the washback was subtle.The research also concludes that only the test takers anxiety has a negative correlation with their scores in the test among different attitudinal factors.