ERIC Number: EJ1022081
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0265-5322
EISSN: N/A
Examining the Impact of L2 Proficiency and Keyboarding Skills on Scores on TOEFL-iBT Writing Tasks
Barkaoui, Khaled
Language Testing, v31 n2 p241-259 Apr 2014
A major concern with computer-based (CB) tests of second-language (L2) writing is that performance on such tests may be influenced by test-taker keyboarding skills. Poor keyboarding skills may force test-takers to focus their attention and cognitive resources on motor activities (i.e., keyboarding) and, consequently, other processes and aspects of writing (e.g., planning, revising) might be left unattended to, which can lead to poor text quality and lower test scores. Such effects might be more pronounced for L2 test-takers. This study investigated the impact of keyboarding skills on test-takers' scores in the context of the TOEFL-iBT Writing Section. Each of 97 test-takers, with different levels of English language proficiency (low vs. high) and keyboarding skills (low vs. high), responded to two TOEFL-iBT writing tasks (independent and integrated) on the computer. Test scores were statistically compared across tasks and test-taker groups. The findings indicated that overall English language proficiency and writing ability in English contributed substantially to variance in task scores, while keyboarding skill had a significant, but weak, effect on task scores. Additionally, keyboarding skills effects depended on task type. While these findings support the claim that performance on TOEFL-iBT writing tasks depends mainly on test-taker English language proficiency, they also raise important questions about the relationships between keyboarding skills, L2 writing ability, and performance on CB L2 writing tests, as well as factors affecting these relationships.
Descriptors: Language Tests, Computer Assisted Testing, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Language Proficiency, Keyboarding (Data Entry), Psychomotor Skills, Writing Processes, Scores, Writing Evaluation, Writing Skills, Writing Tests, Correlation, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Test of English as a Foreign Language
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A