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Language Assessment for Immigration: A Review of Validation Research Over the Last Two Decades
Don Yao; Matthew P. Wallace
2021-11-11
Source PublicationFrontiers in Psychology
ABS Journal Level1
ISSN1664-1078
Volume12
Abstract

It is not uncommon for immigration-seekers to be actively involved in taking various language tests for immigration purposes. Given the large-scale and high-stakes nature those language tests possess, the validity issues (e.g., appropriate score-based interpretations and decisions) associated with them are of great importance as test scores may play a gate-keeping role in immigration. Though interest in investigating the validity of language tests for immigration purposes is becoming prevalent, there has to be a systematic review of the research foci and results of this body of research. To address this need, the current paper critically reviewed 11 validation studies on language assessment for immigration over the last two decades to identify what has been focused on and what has been overlooked in the empirical research and to discuss current research interests and future research trends. Assessment Use Argument (AUA) framework of Bachman and Palmer (2010), comprising four inferences (i.e., assessment records, interpretations, decisions, and consequences), was adopted to collect and examine evidence of test validity. Results showed the consequences inference received the most investigations focusing on immigration-seekers’ and policymakers’ perceptions on test consequences, while the decisions inference was the least probed stressing immigration-seekers’ attitude towards the impartiality of decision-making. It is recommended that further studies could explore more kinds of stakeholders (e.g., test developers) in terms of their perceptions on the test and investigate more about the fairness of decision-making based on test scores. Additionally, the current AUA framework includes only positive and negative consequences that an assessment may engender but does not take compounded consequences into account. It is suggested that further research could enrich the framework. The paper sheds some light on the field of language assessment for immigration and brings about theoretical, practical, and political implications for different kinds of stakeholders (e.g., researchers, test developers, and policymakers).

KeywordLanguage Assessment Immigration Validation Review Assessment Use Argument Framework
DOI10.3389/fpsyg.2021.773132
URLView the original
Indexed BySSCI
Language英語English
WOS Research AreaPsychology
WOS SubjectPsychology, Multidisciplinary
WOS IDWOS:000726143900001
PublisherFRONTIERS MEDIA SA, AVENUE DU TRIBUNAL FEDERAL 34, LAUSANNE CH-1015, SWITZERLAND
Scopus ID2-s2.0-85120678027
Fulltext Access
Citation statistics
Document TypeJournal article
CollectionFaculty of Arts and Humanities
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Corresponding AuthorDon Yao
AffiliationDepartment of English, University of Macau, Macau, China
First Author AffilicationUniversity of Macau
Corresponding Author AffilicationUniversity of Macau
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Don Yao,Matthew P. Wallace. Language Assessment for Immigration: A Review of Validation Research Over the Last Two Decades[J]. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021, 12.
APA Don Yao., & Matthew P. Wallace (2021). Language Assessment for Immigration: A Review of Validation Research Over the Last Two Decades. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.
MLA Don Yao,et al."Language Assessment for Immigration: A Review of Validation Research Over the Last Two Decades".Frontiers in Psychology 12(2021).
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