Article
Is the roal interview superior to the group oral?
Working Papers on Language Acquisition and Education
(2001)
Abstract
As performance-based speaking tests become more prevalent, there is a growing need to . examine
different test formats for different testing situations. This study compares the group oral to the oral
interview in two separate test administrations of both tests. Data collection included ·test scores
assigned by two trained raters, a classroom rating assigned by a trained rater who was teaching the
class, student questionnaires, rater comments, and informal interviews with students. Classical test
analysis and many-facet Rasch measurement were utilized to analyze the data. Little difference was
found in regard to test reliability and neither the students nor the teachers showed a clear preference for
which test they thought was more effective. However, test ratings as compared to classroom ratings
favored the oral interview as a more effective test. It is suggested that the latter finding might be
because some weaker students can mask their wealmesses on the group oral· by controlling the
conversation. The paper also provides insights into some of the problems which arise in performancebased
speaking tests and makes a case for the utilization of many-facet Rasch measurement to help
reduce some of the subjective factors inherent when a performance is assessed by multiple raters.
Keywords
- performance testing,
- speaking,
- many-facet Rasch
Disciplines
Publication Date
2001
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2001 International University of Japan
Citation Information
Gary Ockey. "Is the roal interview superior to the group oral?" Working Papers on Language Acquisition and Education Vol. 11 (2001) p. 22 - 41 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gary-ockey/12/