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Understanding the Cognitive Processes Underlying Performance in the IELTS Listening Comprehension Test
Version 1
: Received: 20 August 2016 / Approved: 22 August 2016 / Online: 22 August 2016 (11:35:11 CEST)
How to cite: Ghahramanlou, M.; Zohoorian, Z.; Baghaei, P. Understanding the Cognitive Processes Underlying Performance in the IELTS Listening Comprehension Test. Preprints 2016, 2016080190 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201608.0190.v1). Ghahramanlou, M.; Zohoorian, Z.; Baghaei, P. Understanding the Cognitive Processes Underlying Performance in the IELTS Listening Comprehension Test. Preprints 2016, 2016080190 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201608.0190.v1).
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the cognitive processes underlying the listening comprehension section of IELTS and to investigate if they vary in terms of difficulty. For this purpose, a checklist of possible cognitive operations was prepared based on the literature and the candidates’ feedback. The checklist consisted of six cognitive operations. A sample of IELTS listening test was given to 310 upper intermediate and advanced students of English. Linear logistic test model was employed to analyse the data. Findings showed that keeping up with the pace of the speaker and understanding reduced forms were the most difficult operations for the listeners. Altogether, the six operations explained 72% of the variance in item difficulty estimates. Implications of the study for the testing and teaching of listening comprehension are discussed.
Subject Areas
listening comprehension; subskills; validity
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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