A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool

The studies conducted so far on the effectiveness of resolution methods including the discussion method in resolving discrepancies in rating have yielded mixed results. What is left unnoticed in the literature is the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool rather than a resolution meth...

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Main Author: Alireza Ahmadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Allameh Tabataba'i University Press 2019-06-01
Series:Issues in Language Teaching
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ilt.atu.ac.ir/article_10846_be0f49385d3a01a5d7ce39fffb2291d1.pdf
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author Alireza Ahmadi
author_facet Alireza Ahmadi
author_sort Alireza Ahmadi
collection DOAJ
description The studies conducted so far on the effectiveness of resolution methods including the discussion method in resolving discrepancies in rating have yielded mixed results. What is left unnoticed in the literature is the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool rather than a resolution method. The present study addresses this research gap by exploring the data coming from rating behaviors of 5 Iranian raters of English. Qualitative analysis of the data indicated that the discussion method can serve the function of training raters. It helped raters rate more easily, quickly and confidently. Furthermore, it helped them improve their understanding and application of the rating criteria and enabled them justify their scoring decisions. Many-faceted Rasch analysis also supported the beneficial effects of discussion in terms of improvement in raters’ severity, consistency in scoring, and the use of scale categories. The findings provide insight into the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool especially in EFL contexts in which lack of access to expert raters can be an obstacle to holding training programs. The author argues for future studies to focus on how discussion may function depending on the rating scale used.
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spelling doaj.art-1f656c3d98974477a2da7e48504d13802023-12-23T10:47:13ZengAllameh Tabataba'i University PressIssues in Language Teaching2322-37152476-61942019-06-018119522410.22054/ilt.2020.49511.46110846A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training ToolAlireza Ahmadi0Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, Faculty of letters and Literature, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IranThe studies conducted so far on the effectiveness of resolution methods including the discussion method in resolving discrepancies in rating have yielded mixed results. What is left unnoticed in the literature is the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool rather than a resolution method. The present study addresses this research gap by exploring the data coming from rating behaviors of 5 Iranian raters of English. Qualitative analysis of the data indicated that the discussion method can serve the function of training raters. It helped raters rate more easily, quickly and confidently. Furthermore, it helped them improve their understanding and application of the rating criteria and enabled them justify their scoring decisions. Many-faceted Rasch analysis also supported the beneficial effects of discussion in terms of improvement in raters’ severity, consistency in scoring, and the use of scale categories. The findings provide insight into the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool especially in EFL contexts in which lack of access to expert raters can be an obstacle to holding training programs. The author argues for future studies to focus on how discussion may function depending on the rating scale used.https://ilt.atu.ac.ir/article_10846_be0f49385d3a01a5d7ce39fffb2291d1.pdfdiscussionrater trainingl2 speakingmany-faceted rasch analysisresolution method
spellingShingle Alireza Ahmadi
A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
Issues in Language Teaching
discussion
rater training
l2 speaking
many-faceted rasch analysis
resolution method
title A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
title_full A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
title_fullStr A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
title_full_unstemmed A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
title_short A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool
title_sort study of raters behavior in scoring l2 speaking performance using rater discussion as a training tool
topic discussion
rater training
l2 speaking
many-faceted rasch analysis
resolution method
url https://ilt.atu.ac.ir/article_10846_be0f49385d3a01a5d7ce39fffb2291d1.pdf
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