The Nelson-Denny Reading Test: Fair Measure For Non-Native Speakers?
The Nelson-Denny Reading Test: Fair Measure For Non-Native Speakers?
Mary Heise
Abstract
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
Method
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
Reliability
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JALT JOURNAL, VOLUME 6 (1984)
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
Correlations
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In spite of the small size of the two test groups, the follow-
ing conclusion can be drawn. As any standardized test of
reading comprehension and vocabulary, the NDRT has severe
limitations. especially for an audience for which it was not
originally intended. These limitations, some of which are the
time limit, difficulty, guess factor, etc., seriously affect the
validity of the test results. Thcrcfore, the test should not be
used as a factor in college admission or as a predictive device
for a group of non-native English speakers.
The study does indicate statistically that a group of non-
native speakers does experience, for the most part, a tremen-
dous amount of difficulty in competing with native English-
speaking American college students in situations comparable to
a standardized test of reading comprehension and vocabulary
knowledge. Therefore, their deficiencies in reading will
adversely affect their performance in tests, especially when a
severe time limit is imposed.
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
Appendix A
TABLE 1 - RELIABILITY
Form C Form D
Voe. Compo Total Voe. Compo Total
Form C Form D
Voe. Compo Voe. Compo
(100 items) (36 items) (100 items) (36 items)
form C Form D
Voa;::. Compo Vae. Compo
(100 items) 136 items) (100 items) 136 items)
Easy items
Americans 9% 36% 3% 3%
Japanese 0% 0% 0% 3%
Difficu It Items
Americans 49% 17% 41% 3%
Japanese 85% 50% 69% 44%
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JALT JOURNAL, VOLUME 6 (1984)
Appendix B
Following is the raw score data for the vocabulary and reading com~
prehension subtests and the total scores for both test groups.
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The Nelson-Denny Reading Test
References
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