A Study Of Correlations Between Testing Methods And The Validity Of English Diagnostic Test

Teaching and testing are two indispensable elements in language education. According to the purpose, tests can be classified into achievement test, proficiency test, placement test and diagnostic test etc. Compared with other kinds of tests, diagnostic test is more closely related to teaching. If properly designed, it can provide much more feedback information for teachers, thereby significantly affecting teaching and learning. However, diagnostic test has not received much attention and the current designed diagnostic tests are always quite informal and irrational, among which the main problem is the use of testing methods. In this thesis, the author classifies the testing methods into two categories: direct testing (which can be realized by various means such as filling blanks, transformation and translation etc.) and indirect testing (mainly realized by multiple-choice items). This dissertation relies on the empirical research to explore whether different testing methods affect students'performance on the small-scale diagnostic tests. If yes, which testing method, direct or indirect testing, may provide much more backwash information, thereby to help to achieve higher validity of diagnostic tests? The results imply that the direct testing method can provide more information than indirect testing.The whole dissertation is divided into seven chapters:Chapter 1: The author gives a brief introduction about the relationship between teaching and testing, the pedagogical significance of diagnostic test, the classification of testing methods and the significance of this study.Chapter 2: Some basic notions related to diagnostic test are introduced, including the purpose and characteristics of the diagnostic test, principles of how to design a diagnostic test and the current development of the diagnostic test.Chapter 3: Considering the purpose and characteristics of diagnostic test, the author points out the special significance of validity to diagnostic test.Chapter 4: The author explains Bachman's theoretical framework of testing method effects, overviews the studies concerning the testing method effects and proposes the theoretical hypothesis of this dissertation.