Review of washback research literature within Kane's argument-based validation framework. (8th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Liying; Sun, Youyi; Ma, Jia
• Is Part Of: Language teaching. Volume 48:Part 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 436
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2015-09-08
• Subjects: Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 418.0071
• DOI: 10.1017/S0261444815000233
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-4448

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>No area of language assessment research in the past 20 years has received a greater increase in attention than washback research. Beginning with the seminal work of Alderson &amp; Wall (Alderson &amp; Wall <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref004">1993</xref>; Wall &amp; Alderson <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref108">1993</xref>), an evolving body of empirical washback studies has been conducted worldwide, especially in countries where English is not the dominant language. A systematic search of the pertinent literature between 1993 and 2013 identified a total of 123 publications consisting of 36 review articles and 87 empirical studies. The focus of this review is on the empirical studies. A further breakdown of these empirical studies reveals 11 books and monographs, 27 doctoral dissertations, 40 journal articles, and 9 book chapters. This intensity of research activity underscores the timeliness and importance of this research topic and highlights its maturity, which in turn calls for this systematic review.</p> </abstract>