Language Testing: The Social Dimension: 1 (Language Learning Monograph) - Softcover

McNamara, Tim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405155434 ISBN 13: 9781405155434

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2006

Synopsis

Winner of the SAGE/ILTA Award for Best Book on Language Testing 2009 This volume focuses on the social aspects of language testing, including assessment of socially situated language use and societal consequences of language tests. The authors argue that traditional approaches to ensuring social fairness in tests go some way to addressing social concerns, but a broader perspective is necessary to examine the functions of tests on a societal scale. * Considers these issues in relation to language assessment in oral proficiency interviews, and to the assessment of second language pragmatics. * Argues that traditional approaches to ensuring social fairness in tests go some way to addressing social concerns, but a broader perspective is necessary if we are to fully understand the social dimension of language assessment.

About this title

Review:

"A major strength of this volume is that it has the potential for opening up a dialog on the social and political consequences of language testing." (Language Teaching, Jan 2009)

"This book ... offers a unique perspective [and] has enormous potential to assist anyone wishing to broaden their understanding of language testing." (TESL-EJ.org)

"McNamara and Roever have done a fine job, and have produced an important and much needed book." (Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development)

"McNamara and Roever's approach to the consequential and social aspects of language testing impressed the awards committee for its originality, breadth of coverage, scholarship, and potential for impact both within and beyond the immediate field of language testing. The authors' examination of test design and validation compares, contrasts, and evaluates the more traditional ways of conceptualizing the social aspects of language testing with a number of contemporary methods. McNamara and Roever's ability to connect these methods results in a timely and comprehensive text expected to influence the field for many years to come." (The 2009 Sage/ITLA Award Committee)

From the Back Cover:

This volume in the Language Learning Monograph series discusses social aspects of language testing, which the authors see as encompassing assessment of socially situated language use as well as the social consequences and societal impact of language tests. At the micro level, the authors explore socially oriented language test constructs and the difficulties they pose for language testing theory and practice. They consider these issues in relation to language assessment in oral proficiency interviews, and to the assessment of second language pragmatics. At the macro level, the authors consider societal concerns with fairness and equity in testing, examining first traditional ways of ensuring test fairness, including bias analysis, differential item functioning, and sensitivity review. They subsequently take a close look at the use and misuse of language tests in implementing educational policy and their gatekeeping function in maintaining boundaries and constructing identities. They argue that both the consequences of test use and the broader societal functions of tests need to be taken into account if we are fully to understand the social dimension of language assessment.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1405155434
• ISBN 13: 9781405155434
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 312