ETS Research Spotlight R&D NEAT TOEFL iBT
- Author(s):
- Eignor, Daniel, ed.; Sinharay, Sandip; Holland, Paul W.; Xi, Xiaoming; Laitusis, Cara Cahalan; Cook, Linda L.
- Publication Year:
- 2008
- Source:
- ETS Research Spotlight, n1, Feb 2008
- Document Type:
- Periodical
- Page Count:
- 20
- Subject/Key Words:
- Research & Development Division (R&D), Non-Equivalent-Groups Anchor Test (NEAT) Design, Equating, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Internet Based Testing (iBT), Reading comprehension--Handbooks, manuals, etc., Assessing People with Disabilities
Abstract
This issue of Research Spotlight features three articles: Choice of Anchor Test in Equating (S. Sinharay & P. Holland), Validating the Use of TOEFL® iBT Speaking Section Scores to Screen and Set Standards for International Teaching Assistants (X. Xi), and Reading Aloud as an Accommodation for a Test of Reading Comprehension (C. Cahalan Laitusis & L. L. Cook). The Sinharay/Holland article looks at the practice of using an anchor test (a miniature version of the test being equated) to ensure that scores on two or more forms of a test can be used interchangeably. Their study suggests that contrary to common knowledge, the items in an anchor test do not need to reflect the full range of difficulty of the items in the tests being linked. The Xi article is about an investigation to see if it is suitable to use scores on the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section for a purpose beyond that for which the test was originally designed. The Cahalan Laitusis/Cook article describes research underway at ETS to help make large scale assessments of reading proficiency more accessible for students who have disabilities that affect reading.