Score Generalizability in Writing Assessment: The Interface between Applied Linguistics and Psychometrics Research - Softcover

Gebril, Atta

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3639131711 ISBN 13: 9783639131710

Publisher: VDM Verlag, 2009

Synopsis

Reliability of writing scores has always been a longstanding concern in second-language assessment. Due to the myriad sources of variability contributing to writing scores, such as tasks, raters, scoring rubrics, genres, topics, and traits to be evaluated, writing exams have relatively low score reliability. Classical methods of estimating reliability fall short of accounting for different sources of error since only one undifferentiated error term is provided in this context. Generalizability theory is perceived as a better alternative to these classical methods given its ability to provide information about the different sources of error. In addition, it gives insights into how these variables interact in an assessment context. More importantly, generalizability theory can propose possible assessment scenarios to achieve maximum measurement precision. This book focuses on two of these facets, tasks and raters, in order to investigate their relative contribution to writing scores using generalizability analysis. The book adopts an interdisciplinary perspective where both applied linguistics and psychometrics research is brought together.

About this title

About the Author

Atta Gebril is an assistant professor & coordinator of the Applied Linguistics program at the UAE University. Dr. Gebril previously worked at the College of William and Mary in Virginia and at ACT, Inc (USA). He is the winner of the 2008 University of Michigan Spaan Fellowship in L2 assessment and the 2009 TOEFL Committee of Examiners (COE) Grant.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3639131711
• ISBN 13: 9783639131710
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 236