2025/07/03 by Shokouh Rashvand Semiyari, Rashvand Semiyari, Shokouh, Nayereh Aloohimi +1
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Student Assessment and Feedback #EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning #Educational and Psychological Assessments
paper · doi:10.82531/202507031211041
The study aimed to explore the impact of learning-oriented assessment (LOA), specifically peer assessment (PA) and self-assessment (SA), on the reading comprehension scores of Iranian EFL learners. The research focused on determining whether these alternative assessment strategies could lead to significant improvements in reading comprehension compared to traditional assessment methods. To ensure a consistent level of English proficiency among participants, 75 female EFL students, aged 18-35 and at an intermediate level, were assessed using the Oxford Placement Test (OPT). The students were then divided into three groups: one utilizing peer assessment (N=25), another employing self-assessment (N=25), and a control group using traditional assessment methods (N=25). The study utilized a pretest-posttest design to evaluate the participants' performance before and after the intervention. A reading comprehension exam from the Headway series at the intermediate level was administered for both the pre-test and post-test. Statistical analyses, including paired samples t-tests and independent samples t-tests, were conducted to assess the significance of any changes in scores. Results indicated that all three groups showed improvements in reading comprehension scores. Notably, the paired samples t-test revealed significant enhancements in the posttest scores of the treatment groups (SA and PA) compared to their pretest scores, confirming the effectiveness of LOA on reading comprehension. The findings also suggest that LOA can meaningfully enhance reading comprehension among EFL learners. Consequently, the study advocated for a shift from conventional teacher-centered assessment methods to more learner-centered approaches, encouraging both teachers and students to embrace these innovative assessment strategies.