An Empirical Investigation of the Componentiality of L2 Reading in English for Academic Purposes

by Cyril Weir , Yang Huizhong , Jin Yan

• ISBN13: 9780521653817
• ISBN10: 0521653819
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The focus on careful reading in theoretical literature has meant that we have somewhat ignored reading behaviours such as skimming, scanning and search reading in the teaching and testing of reading. These theories do not explain how readers process texts quickly and selectively. The development of the Advanced English Reading Test (AERT) for university students in the People's Republic of China under the auspices of the National College English Test Committee was the vehicle for investigating the nature of and the relationships between skimming, scanning, search reading and careful reading. This volume reports on the methodological procedures that led to the development of this important test and discusses the results of the empirical investigations that were carried out to establish its validity. As such it offers a blueprint of reading assessment for those wishing to research in the area.

Table of Contents

Series Editor's note	vi
Preface	viii
Acknowledgements	x
Introduction	1	(13)
Establishing the parameters of EAP reading	14	(38)
Synthesising the a priori validation data	52	(5)
Operationalising the specification: test development	57	(16)
The quantitative studies. a posteriori validation of the prototype AERT - version 1: quantitative studies	73	(20)
The a posteriori validation of the prototype AERT - version 1: qualitative studies	93	(25)
Conclusions and recommendations	118	(4)
References	122	(6)
Appendices	128	(170)
Subject Index	298