Table of Contents

Preface
1: Introduction
The aims of the book
The climate for language testing
Research and development: needs and problems
Research and development: an agenda
Overview of the book
Notes
2: Measurement
Introduction
Definition of terms: measurement, test, evaluation
Essential measurement qualities
Properties of measurement scales
Characteristics that limit measurement
Steps in measurement
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
3: Uses of Language Tests
Introduction
Uses of language tests in educational programs
Research uses of language tests
Features for classifying different types of language test
Summary
Further reading
Discussion questions
4: Communicative Language Ability
Introduction
Language proficiency and communicative competence
A theoretical framework of communicative language ability
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
5: Test Methods
Introduction
A framework of test method facets
Applications of this framework to language testing
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
6: Reliability
Introduction
Factors that affect language test scores
Classical true score measurement theory
Generalizability theory
Standard error of measurement:
Interpreting individual test scores within classical true score and generalizability theory
Item response theory
Reliability of criterion-referenced test scores
Factors that affect reliability estimates
Systematic measurement error
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
7: Validation
Introduction
Reliability and validity revisited
Validity as a unitary concept
The evidential basis of validity
Test bias
The consequential or ethical basis of validity
Post mortem: face validity
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
8: Some Persistent Problems and Future Directions
Introduction
Authentic language tests
Some future directions
A general model for explaining performance on language tests
Apologia et prolegomenon
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Discussion questions
Bibliography
Author index
Subject index

Promotional Information

A clear and authoritative discussion of the basic concerns which underlie the development and use of language tests. By Lyle F Bachman. Part of the Oxford Applied Linguistics series.