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dc.contributor.authorBax, Stephenen
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-07T13:37:36Z
dc.date.available2015-01-07T13:37:36Z
dc.date.issued2013-10
dc.identifier.citationBax, S., (2013) 'The cognitive processing of candidates during reading tests: evidence from eye-tracking'. Language Testing, 30 (4) pp441-465en
dc.identifier.issn0265-5322
dc.identifier.issn1477-0946
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/0265532212473244
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10547/337880
dc.description.abstractThe research described in this article investigates test takers’ cognitive processing while completing onscreen IELTS (International English Language Testing System) reading test items. The research aims, among other things, to contribute to our ability to evaluate the cognitive validity of reading test items (Glaser, 1991; Field, in press). The project focused on differences in reading behaviours of successful and unsuccessful candidates while completing IELTS test items. A group of Malaysian undergraduates (n = 71) took an onscreen test consisting of two IELTS reading passages with 11 test items. Eye movements of a random sample of these participants (n = 38) were tracked. Stimulated recall interview data was collected to assist in interpretation of the eye-tracking data. Findings demonstrated significant differences between successful and unsuccessful test takers on a number of dimensions, including their ability to read expeditiously (Khalifa & Weir, 2009), and their focus on particular aspects of the test items and texts, while no observable difference was noted in other items. This offers new insights into the cognitive processes of candidates during reading tests. Findings will be of value to examination boards preparing reading tests, to teachers and learners, and also to researchers interested in the cognitive processes of readers.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe research reported in this article was supported in part by the ELT Research Award scheme funded by the British Council to promote innovation in English language teaching research. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the British Council.en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherSAGEen
dc.relation.urlhttp://ltj.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0265532212473244en
dc.rightsArchived with thanks to Language Testingen
dc.subjectassessmenten
dc.subjectcomputer-based testingen
dc.subjectcognitive processesen
dc.subjecteye-trackingen
dc.subjectreadingen
dc.subjectreading testingen
dc.titleThe cognitive processing of candidates during reading tests: evidence from eye-trackingen
dc.typeArticleen
dc.contributor.departmentUniversity of Bedfordshireen
dc.identifier.journalLanguage Testingen
html.description.abstractThe research described in this article investigates test takers’ cognitive processing while completing onscreen IELTS (International English Language Testing System) reading test items. The research aims, among other things, to contribute to our ability to evaluate the cognitive validity of reading test items (Glaser, 1991; Field, in press). The project focused on differences in reading behaviours of successful and unsuccessful candidates while completing IELTS test items. A group of Malaysian undergraduates (n = 71) took an onscreen test consisting of two IELTS reading passages with 11 test items. Eye movements of a random sample of these participants (n = 38) were tracked. Stimulated recall interview data was collected to assist in interpretation of the eye-tracking data. Findings demonstrated significant differences between successful and unsuccessful test takers on a number of dimensions, including their ability to read expeditiously (Khalifa & Weir, 2009), and their focus on particular aspects of the test items and texts, while no observable difference was noted in other items. This offers new insights into the cognitive processes of candidates during reading tests. Findings will be of value to examination boards preparing reading tests, to teachers and learners, and also to researchers interested in the cognitive processes of readers.


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