Open AccessThe Effect of Washback on EFL Learners’ Attitudes toward Tests
Author(s) -
Rodrigo Esteban Muñoz
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
study in english language teaching
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2372-9740
pISSN - 2329-311X
DOI - 10.22158/selt.v5n3p516
Subject(s) - psychology , mathematics education , test (biology) , positive attitude , action research , mathematics , social psychology , paleontology , biology
The purpose of this action research was to improve learners’ attitudes towards tests through the implementation of positive washback. This article compares the results obtained by two groups of learners in a secondary school in Southern Chile on the Attitude toward Test Scale (Dodeen, 2008). During the intervention, tests were followed by washback activities for the experimental group. Lessons in which positive washback was sought were observed using a focused observation table in order to track the techniques used. Finally, an in-depth follow-up interview was conducted in order to obtain deeper insights. After implementation, results indicated that the experimental group evidenced a statistically significant improvement in their attitude towards tests.