A Comparative Study On Multiple-Choice Cloze And Open Cloze

The cloze test is a test method which is extensively used in measuring testees' a wide range of aspects of language competence in many large-scale language tests. In general, cloze test can be classified into multiple-choice cloze format and open cloze format. In the case of multiple-choice cloze, testees are offered some options for each blank and required to select one from them. In the case of open cloze, no options are given for testees have to fill in each blank by themselves. Multiple-choice cloze is one of the most popular testing formats and still widely used in our country, but few researches on comparative studies between the multiple-choice cloze and open cloze are implemented in China. In this sense, this thesis is of practical importance.The overall purpose of the current study is to investigate whether there exist any differences in validities and reliabilities between multiple-choice cloze test and open cloze test. The following five research questions are examined:1. Are test-takers'performances different when the two different test formats of cloze are utilized?2. Do the two cloze test formats have any effect on their validities?3. Are there any variations in reliabilities of multiple-choice cloze and open cloze?4. Does open cloze test yield a better measurement of testees' overall language competence than a multiple-choice cloze test does?5. What kinds of attitudes do Chinese college English learners and teachers hold toward the two cloze test formats?In the research experiment, cloze tests and questionnaires were given to 32 students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Furthermore, questionnaires were distributed to 20 teachers respectively from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Business School, who are quite experienced in college English teaching. Then the researcher analyzed findings of the experiment and the questionnaires. It indicates that cloze test in general is a valid testing method for measuring language competence for this particular group of testees. However, Open cloze format can better provide a clearer picture of the target testees' English proficiency while multiple-choice cloze format seems to measure only low-level language ability as it correlates more highly with vocabulary and grammar knowledge. These findings may shed some light on cloze test design and ESL teaching and learning at the tertiary level.