An Interactive Approach To Test Validation

The main focus of the present doctoral study is placed on the validation of the reading component of the current Test for English Majors Grade Four (TEM4) in an attempt to further improve its usefulness.The validation study involves efforts from several perspectives, both judgmental and empirical. An in-depth discussion on validity and validation highlights the importance of validation in reading test development and evaluation. In validating a reading test, we need to look for different lines of evidence to support the underlying ability we attempt to measure. Evidence should be collected in terms of test domain, comparison with external measures (criteria), response consistency, appropriateness of test use and, most important of all, test construct (reading competence or ability). The establishment of reading construct is, thus, of primary concern in reading test validation, and all other types of evidence can be used to support the reading test hypothesis.At the various stages of reading test validation, the significance of test specifications cannot be overemphasized. At the planning stage, it is imperative that test specifications spell out the intended domain of reading behaviour or competence in clear terms. At the task design stage, test specifications facilitate the operation of different facets of validity in practical terms. And at the evaluation stage, specifications contribute to the establishment of the usefulness of a test.Then, the dissertation undertakes a review of a few influential reading models and their theoretical underpinnings. On the basis of the discussion, the dissertation looks into various factors, such as skill factors, reader factors, text factors, method factors etc., and the implications for reading test validation.The preceding discussion serves to lay the theoretical foundation for the...