Washback Research: How Far Have We Come?

This paper reviews the progress made in washback studies over the past two decades since Alderson and Wall’s (1993) influential call for a programme of research. Models of washback processes are explored and an agenda for future research suggested. It is recommended that future projects should pay greater attention to test design features and to the outcomes of learning as well as continuing to explore factors such as learner motivation and cultural factors that might encourage participants to react to tests in certain ways, but not in others. Washback research itself is seen to be a potentially valuable tool in persuading participants to adopt new practices.