Navigating Multi-Language Assessments: Best Practices for Test Development, Linking, and Evaluation
Louise Badham1, María Elena Oliveri2, Stephan G Sireci3
1International Baccalaureate (United Kingdom).
Background:
Developing assessments in multiple languages is hugely complex, impacting every stage from test development to scoring, and evaluating scores. Different approaches are needed to examine comparability and enhance validity in cross-lingual assessments.
Method:
A review of literature and practices relating to different methods used in cross-lingual assessment is presented.
Results:
There has been a shift from source-to-target language translation to developing items in multiple languages simultaneously. Quantitative and qualitative methods are used to link and evaluate assessments across languages and provide validity evidence.
Conclusions:
This article provides practitioners with an overview and research-based recommendations relating to test development, linking, and validation of assessments produced in multiple languages.
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