12 hour colloquium

Lyle F. Bachman
Adrian S. Palmer

LANGUAGE TESTING RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM

For the past three years, a group of researchers has met at TESOL to discuss issues in language testing research. The early colloquia were devoted primarily to problems in the construct validation of oral language tests. Later colloquia offered a broader range of topics. One outcome of these colloquia has been the planning and execution of a series of investigations into the nature of communicative competence and what tests of communicative competence measure. Another has been the opportunity for researchers to present the results of their studies and to profit from the criticism of their colleagues.

The topics of the proposed colloquium will include construct and criterion related empirical validation studies and general or specific validation models, including domain specification. Summaries of papers will be circulated to participants approximately one month before the colloquium, allowing most of the colloquium time to be devoted to a discussion of issues raised by the papers. Approximately twelve papers will be presented and discussed, with time reserved on the afternoon of the second day for consideration of other topics and directions for future research.

Participation will be limited to thirty-six people, with priority given to those who are presenting papers.

Audience:

A. Applied Linguistics

B. Testers

C. Experienced in the field

Papers, in order of presentation:

Saturday, May 1

"Developing models of communicative competence: conceptual, statistical, and methodological considerations." (Gary Cziko)

"Oral proficiency testing of non-native speaking teaching assistants: issues in criterion-related validity" (Kathi Bailey)

"Performance profiles and global proficiency ratings" (Pardee Lowe and Ray Clifford)

"The interdependence of first and second language skills in writing" (Michael Canale)

"Relating FOPT (FSI) scores to grammatical analyses of the learner's speech" (Frances Hinofotis)

"Face to face versus recorded oral proficiency testing: affective and content validity considerations." (Randy Jones and Jerry Larson)

"Validating the English Language Testing Service" (Brendan Carroll)

Sunday, May 2

"Language testing and content predictability" (John Upshur)

"Sample validity" (Grant Henning)

"The construct validity of self-ratings of some components of language proficiency" (Lyle Bachman and Buzz Palmer)

"Linguistic and communicative assessment of bilingual children" (Zoe Ann Hayes)

"English language tests, school language use, and achievement in Spanish-speaking high school students" (Mary McGroarty)