EAP Teacher Assessment Literacy

The first chapter of this thesis begins with an introduction to the background associated with the research project and an overview of significant issues in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and its assessment. This leads on to an explanation of the need for EAP Assessment Literacy. It is clarified, through reference to the research questions, that this study has been undertaken in order to investigate the extent to which the views of EAP teachers, on the topic of EAP testing and assessment, reflect language testing research and practices which comprise Assessment Literacy. Statement of the research questions and the hypothesis under investigation also explains that the thesis aims to ascertain how EAP Assessment Literacy can be sustained or enhanced. Chapter 2 of the study presents the Literature Review which examines the conceptual frameworks surrounding Assessment Literacy and the context of EAP. The views of key proponents of Assessment Literacy are discussed alongside a review of associated research in the fields of Education, Applied Linguistics and EAP. Other resources and mechanisms available for the enhancement of Assessment Literacy through formal training or in-service learning opportunities are also discussed. In the third chapter, the Research Design and Methodology, the researcher’s philosophical approach is rationalised and an appropriate set of research methods for this enquiry into EAP Assessment Literacy is identified. For this particular study the choice of a pragmatic paradigm is clarified. A mixed methods approach is also described in addition to the design of a questionnaire and an interview protocol for data collection purposes. Chapter 4 presents the Findings section of the research. Features of the research participant population are described and, in the case of the questionnaire, a method for filtering the total number of respondents to provide a more representative group is outlined. The results from the two main research tools are then presented in terms of key sets of data. These data sets include different question types and investigate the key areas of Assessment Literacy in EAP. Through Chapter 5, Analysis and Discussion, the meaning revealed within the Findings chapter is interpreted further. This will serve to identify key information relating to EAP teachers’ views on EAP testing and assessment practices and the extent to which these reflect language testing research practices which comprise Assessment Literacy. A synthesis of the main outcomes of the research is then provided in Chapter 6, Conclusions and Recommendations. Suggestions regarding what needs to be undertaken in order to sustain or enhance EAP teacher Assessment Literacy are also provided in the recommendations. In addition, the limitations of the study are also acknowledged, so that the scope of the research is appropriately contextualised. In Chapter 7, a list of references is provided detailing resources which have been cited during the research. Finally, an Appendix is included in Chapter 8 which includes the full questionnaire and the full set of interview questions. Access is also provided to transcripts from each of the interviews, the series of open question responses from the questionnaire and number of charts and diagrams which are not included in the main body of the thesis.