tailieunhanh - An investigation into the content validity of a Vietnamese standardized test of English proficiency (vstep.3 5) reading test

This paper investigated the content validity of a Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency () Reading test via both qualitative and quantitative methods1 . The aim of the study is to evaluate the relevance and the coverage of the content in this test compared with the description in the test specification and the actual performance of examinees. | AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTENT VALIDITY OF A VIETNAMESE STANDARDIZED TEST OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY () READING TEST Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao* Center for Language Testing and Assessment, VNU University of Languages and International Studies, Pham Van Dong, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam Received 07 March 2018 Revised 26 July 2018; Accepted 31 July 2018 Abstract: This paper investigated the content validity of a Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency () Reading test via both qualitative and quantitative methods1. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relevance and the coverage of the content in this test compared with the description in the test specification and the actual performance of examinees. With the content analysis provided by three testing experts using Bachman and Palmer’s 1996 framework and test score analysis, the study results in a relatively high consistency of the test content with the test design framework and the test takers’ performance. These findings help confirm the content validity of the specific investigated test paper. However, a need for content review is raised from the research as some problems have been revealed from the analysis. Keywords: language testing, content validity, reading comprehension test, standardized test 1. Introduction 12 In foreign language testing, it is crucial to ensure the test validity – one of the six significant qualities (along with reliability, authenticity, practicality, interactiveness and impact) for test usefulness (Bachman & Palmer, 1996). Accordingly, designing a valid reading test is of great concern of language educators and researchers (Bachman and Palmer, 1996; Alderson, 2000; Jin Yan, 2002). The Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency () has been implemented for Vietnamese learners of * Tel: 84-963716969 Email: phuongthaonguyen310@ 1 This study was completed under the sponsorship of the University of Languages and International Studies .