Survey Research on the Use of Placement Tests at Four-year University in Japna and a Preliminary Study of Item Bankin

这项研究的目的有两个：(1)了解日本四年制大学专门为就业目的而使用的英语语言测试的现状；(2)为开发测试电池奠定基础。为了达到第一个目的，1999年10月进行了一项问卷调查，以确定英语语言测试的使用情况。调查问卷发放给了616所四年制大学，包括95所国立大学、66所公立大学和455所私立大学。200份调查问卷被收回，并返回给研究人员。也就是说，32.5%的受访者的数据得到了分析。结果表明，除了已经在进行分级测试的大学外，许多大学还计划在不久的将来进行测试。换句话说，安置测试的潜在用户数量很大，许多人减缓了人们对测试的积极兴趣。一些大学报告说，他们开发了自己的测试电池，以满足他们的需求和学生的英语能力。那些采用标准化英语考试的学生也指出了使用更合适的工具来衡量学生英语水平的必要性和重要性。另一方面，许多受访者表示担心，缺乏开发测试、处理数据以及分析和解释结果的理论骨干和技术技能。这项研究的第二个目的有望满足这些受访者的要求。通过文献和人力资源收集信息，以展示构建题库的基本方法。在最后的报告中，讨论了两个案例，以说明如何建立题库以及可以包括的信息类型。

The purpose of this study was twofold : (1) to gain an understanding of the present condition in terms of the use of English language tests specifically for placement purposes at four-year universities in Japan and (2) to form the basis for developing test batteries. To serve the first purpose, a questionnaire study was conducted in October 1999 to determine the use of English language tests. The questionnaires were distributed to 616 four-year universities including 95 national, 66 public and 455 private universities. Two hundred questionnaires were answered and returned to the researcher. That is, 32.5% respondents' data were analyzed. The result indicated that in addition to the universities that had already been giving placement tests, many were planning to conduct tests in the near future. In other words, the number of potential users of placement tests was large and many slowed an active interest in the tests. Some universities reported developing their own test batteries to match their needs and the English abilities of their students. Those who were adopting standardized English tests also indicated the necessity and importance of utilizing more suitable tools to measure their students' English proficiency. On the other hand, many respondents raised the concern that both theoretical backbones and technical skills to develop a test, to handle the data and to analyze and interpret the results were lacking. The second purpose of this study would hopefully meet the demands of those respondents. Information through literature and human resources was collected in order to show basic ways to construct an item bank. In the final report, two cases were discussed to show how to build an item bank and the type of information that could be included.