Date: 02/19/2020

PRI NCI PLES OF LANGUAGE

ASSESSMENT

Reliability
A reliable test is consistent and dependable. If you give the
same test to the same student, the test should yield similar
results. The issue of reliability of a test may best be
addressed by considering the following factors. (Brown,
2004, p.20).
Student-Related Rater Reliability
Reliability Inte r - r a t er reliability occurs when t w o o r
The most common learner-related issue more s c orers yield inconsistent sco r e s o f
in reliability is caused by temporary the s a m e test, possibly for lac k o f
atte n t i o n to scoring crit e r i a ,
illness, fatigue, a “bad day,” anxiety,
inex p e r i e nce, in attention, or even
and other physical or psychological
p rec o n c eived bias es.
factors. (Mousavi, 2002, p.804). Intr a - r a t er reliability is a comm o n
occu r r e n c e for classroom tea c h e r s
b eca u s e of unc lear scoring crit e r i a ,
fati g u e , bias toward particular “ g o o d ”
and “ bad” students or si m p l e
care l e s s n ess. (Brown, 2004, p.21).

Test administration Reliability

U n r e l i a b i l i t y m a y a l s o r e s u l t f r o m t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h

t h e t e s t i s a d m i n i s t r a t e d . U n r e l i a b i l i t y a r e f o u n d i n

p h o t o c o p y i n g v a r i a t i o n s , t h e a m o u n t o f l i g h t i n d i f f e r e n t

p a r t s o f t h e r o o m , v a r i a t i o n s i n t e m p e r a t u r e , a n d e v e n

t h e c o n d i t i o n o f d e s k s a n d c h a i r s . ( B r o w n , 2 0 0 4 , p . 2 1 ) .

Test Reliabilty
Sometimes the nature of the test itself can cause
measurement errors. If the test is too long, test-
takers may become fatigued by the time they reach
the later items and hastily respond incorrectly.
Timed tests may discriminate against students who
do not perform well on a test with a time limit. We
all know people who “know” the course material
perfectly but who are adversely affected by the
presence of a clock ticking away.(Brown, 2004,
p.22).

Designed by: Jair Osvaldo Herrera Gurrola and America Vanessa Solorio Guzman
Reference:Brown, H.D. (2004). Language assessment: principles and classroom practices. White
Plains, NY: Longman. .