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5 - Support for the Evaluation Inference

Investigating Conditions for Rating Responses on a Test of Academic Oral Language

from Part II - Investigating Score Interpretations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2021

By
Hyejin Yang
Edited by
Carol A. Chapelle  and
Erik Voss
Carol A. Chapelle
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
Erik Voss
Affiliation:
Teachers College, Columbia University
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Summary

This chapter reports on one aspect of the argument-based validation research conducted to evaluate the interpretation and use of scores from the Oral English Certification Test (OECT). The test of English speaking ability for prospective international teaching assistants (ITAs) was updated by introducing a new a web-based rating system, called Rater-Platform (R-PLAT). R-PLAT was intended to improve the efficiency of the rating process, but research was needed to investigate its effects on all aspects of the interpretation/use argument (Kane, 2013). The study investigated the warrant underlying the evaluation inference: the observed performance on the OECT recorded via R-PLAT provides observed scores and observed performance descriptors reflective of targeted speaking ability. The assumption in need of support was that the quality of rating conditions created by R-PLAT was sufficient for gathering accurate scores. Backing was found through analysis of raters’ perceptions towards and their use of R-PLAT collected through questionnaires and interviews. This chapter concludes with the validity argument showing how evidence collected from this study supported the assumptions underlying the evaluation inference. It suggests future research needed to build the complete validity argument for the OECT with R-PLAT, and potential use of a web-based rating system for other speaking tests.

Keywords

rater-platform (R-PLAT)rating processevaluation inferencerater perceptionsinternational teaching assistants (ITAs)proficiency levels
Type
Chapter
Information
Validity Argument in Language Testing
Case Studies of Validation Research
 , pp. 96 - 119
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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