Effects of question format and randomization : and grammatical inaccuracy on oral interview scores

Abstract EN

This study aimed to address three gaps in the research on oral interviews: First, the extent to which question randomization affects content scores, second, how the use of several question formats determines content scores, and third, the relationship between counts of grammatical mistakes and content scores across a variety of question formats.

The study used data collected from oral interviews with 78 adult EFL learners at the elementary level of an intensive English program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The participants were interviewed, using random selections of questions in various formats, as part of the final exam of their oral skills.

Using ANOVA, linear regression, and Pearson correlation analyses, the researcher found that content scores did not differ significantly because of question randomization, certain question formats significantly predicted content scores, and significant positive correlations existed between counts of grammatical mistakes and content scores on certain question formats.

The study report ends with implications for the use of oral interviews in terms of randomizing questions, employing several question formats, and dealing with grammatical mistakes across various question formats.