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Comparison of interpersonal and presentational description in Russian oral proficiency testing

Mikhailova, Julia V
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1117225383

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures.
The two major testing tools for oral proficiency assessment in Russian are the OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) and the SOPI (Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview). Though in recent decades much attention has been directed to the analysis of the validity of the two tests, no research has focused on the investigation of whether the mode of the test (interpersonal in the OPI versus presentational in the SOPI) influences testees’ performance. The current study takes the first steps in examining how the modality of the speaking test affects a Russian learner discourse. This study focuses on the language function of description which, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Guidelines (OPG), is one of the core functions of Advanced-level performance. The data consist of recorded OPIs and SOPIs of testees’ with an oral proficiency rating between Intermediate-High and Superior as well as OPIs and SOPIs collected from Native Speakers of Russian currently residing in the US. The methodological framework of this study is based on Shohamy’s (Hebrew) and Koike’s research (Spanish) comparing OPI and SOPI speech. It also largely hinges on Rifkin’s work, which examines the syntax of the function of narration given by Russian learners. The current study investigates OPI and SOPI description by analyzing syntactic and lexical complexity. The analysis of syntactic complexity allows the researcher to hypothesize as to why one test constantly exhibits a higher frequency of subordination. The analysis of lexical complexity establishes the correlation between content and function items produced and allows the researcher to conclude why one test elicits more “less frequently used lexical items”. Although previous research on the correlation, comparability, and validity of OPI and SOPI ratings suggests that both tests adhere to the same ACTFL OPG and elicit the same speech samples, the present study questions the validity of the SOPI at Intermediate-High through Superior levels. The hypothesis is that the difference in the syntactic and lexical complexity of speech produced in the two tests lies in the modality of the tests, the prompts used by the OPI and the SOPI, and testees’ psychological comfort during the test.
Benjamin Rifkin Brian Joseph (Advisor)
284 p.
Education, Tests and Measurements
testing; OPI; Russian; description

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mikhailova, J. V. (2005). Comparison of interpersonal and presentational description in Russian oral proficiency testing [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1117225383

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mikhailova, Julia. Comparison of interpersonal and presentational description in Russian oral proficiency testing. 2005. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1117225383.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mikhailova, Julia. "Comparison of interpersonal and presentational description in Russian oral proficiency testing." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1117225383

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1117225383
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.