Assessment and Evaluation (ASE)

This strand encompasses research related to the assessment and testing of language abilities, the policy functions of language assessment and testing, and the use of assessment-derived data for evaluation purposes. Presentations may include validation studies; test development projects; conceptual work on proficiency, fluency, and other key constructs; dynamic assessment; washback studies, and studies of the policy context of assessment and test impact. They may also entail the assessment of components of language (e.g., vocabulary, grammar, pragmatics, pronunciation), and the validation of tests for use in research contexts. Additionally, presentations may deal with topics related to the assessment of language used in various contexts and for specific purposes (e.g., professional language competency requirements, tests of academic language use for admission to higher education, tests used for immigration, residency, and citizenship, and so on).