Concept maps:

The study reflected in this book aims at addressing the issues related to the reliability and validity of adoption of concept maps to assess L2 reading comprehension. The concept map version utilized in this study was select and fill-in (SAFI) to ensure objectivity and ease of scoring. In validation of the test, the endeavor was made to rigorously pretest the test through three separate pilot studies, to address validity from different angles, to investigate construct validity through think aloud procedure, and to further validate the test via a triple-comparison among three L2 reading test formats. The results substantiated that SAFI concept map can be a reliable and valid tool of L2 reading assessment which has the potential of assessing connected understanding and discourse comprehension. A significant practical implication of concept map assessment approach is that it offers the prospect of developing L2 reading tests that encourage testees' utilization of higher-order abilities, while allowing for objective scoring. The comprehensive discussion and implications presented in the book should be especially useful for L2 test developers and instructors, as well as L2 learners.