A Common Metric Scale (CMS) on the Parallel Developmental Sequence (PDS) Model

A Common Metric Scale (CMS) on the Parallel Developmental Sequence (PDS) Model

  Where is a parallel interface to enhance reciprocal developments between SLA research and language testing? To answer this question, the present study proposes the Interlanguage (IL) approach, the Testability and the Bounded-domain hypothesis, and develops a common metric scale (CMS) based on the Parallel Developmental Sequence (PDS) Model (Kim & Kwon, 2005). The IL approach enables the PDS to be converted into the CMS. Thus, the absolute scales, the scale calibration, and the scale descriptions of the CMS can be automatically defined. In addition, the Testability hypothesis enables test tasks to be geared to the IL learner"s language proficiency, and the Bounded-domain hypothesis enables test domains to be synchronized with IL discourse domains. Thus, the scales, the scale descriptors, and the task or test hierarchies will all stand in an implicational relationship to each other, and hence will satisfy the triple requirements of an implicational relationship for the development of a CMS. To validate the theoretical CMS, the Pearson Correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis Test were conducted. The results showed that the theoretical CMS has a potential to be used as a real CMS in language testing. In conclusion, the CMS can constitute a parallel interface to enhance the reciprocal developments between SLA research and language testing, and hence provide "timely remedy and tailored teaching" for IL learners as well as a practical, reliable measure for SLA research and language testing.