On Topic Validity in Speaking Tests (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781009102490)

Topics are often used as a key speech elicitation method in performance-based assessments of spoken language and yet, the validity and fairness issues surrounding topics are surprisingly under-researched. Are different topics 'equivalent' or 'parallel'? Can some topics bias against or favour individuals or groups of individuals? Does background knowledge of topics have an impact on performance? Might the content of test taker speech affect their scores - and perhaps more importantly, should it? This monograph draws on original data as well as insights from empirical and theoretical research to address these questions. Grounded in the real-world assessment context of IELTS, this volume explores issues related to topic validity against the backdrop of one of the world's most high stakes language tests.

Author: Nahal Khabbazbashi
ISBN-10: 1009102494
ISBN-13: 9781009102490
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 02/04/2022
Pages: 246
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.50d