Establishing an Argument-Based Validity Approach for a Low-Stake Test of Collocational Behavior

Most of the validation studies conducted across varying test application contexts are usually framed within the traditional conceptualization of validity and therefore lack a comprehensive framework to focus on test score interpretations and test score use. This study aimed at developing and validat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: ali Darabi Bazvand, Alireza Khoram, Seyyed Ali Mirsalari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Tabriz 2018-12-01
Series:Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://elt.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_8346_2cab188555a8e4b94989d7cb6448e71e.pdf
Description
Summary:Most of the validation studies conducted across varying test application contexts are usually framed within the traditional conceptualization of validity and therefore lack a comprehensive framework to focus on test score interpretations and test score use. This study aimed at developing and validating a collocational behavior test (CBT), drawing on Kane's argument-based approach to validity. Four types of inferences including observation, generalization, extrapolation and explanation were articulated. To verify the validity assumptions, both theoretical and empirical evidence were presented within the formative and summative stages of test development and validation. Followed from Kane, theoretical evidence was sought through test specification, item construction, and test construction procedures. Empirical support, however, was sought through examining the collocational behavior test (CBT) with a sample of 60 university students majoring in TEFL. Ebel’s criteria, KR-21 reliability and a series of Pearson-Product correlation were applied to analyze the data for both theoretical and empirical phases. The findings refer to the support for the assumptions proposed for test validity, suggesting that the collocational behavior test(CBT)may provide an appropriate and accurate indicator of collocational language ability for EFL learners. The implications for language testing and assessment are discussed
ISSN:2251-7995
2676-6876