本研究采用评分员口头报告的研究方法追踪评分员评估英语录音口试样本时的思维过程，着重研究评分员的评分行为和评分过程，旨在揭示英语录音口试评分过程的本质和评分员的作用。本研究具体围绕两大研究问题：(1)评分员如何构建评分标准？(2)评分员如何作出评分决策？

本书研究英语录音口试评分员构建评分标准以及做出评分决策的过程。研究采用即时回溯、受激回忆等口头报告方法追踪了24名评分员在评估英语录音口试样本时的思维过程，并在评分结束后对评分员进行了访谈。研究揭示了评分员构建评分标准和评分决策的主体作用以及录音口试评分过程的复杂性、动态性和循环性，并提出了以评分员为主体的动态评分过程模型。

INTRODUCTION

 0.1 Motivations

0.1.1 Queries about the Application of Test Criteria

0.1.2 Implications from Preliminary Findings

 0.2 Significance of the Study

0.2.1 Theoretical Significance

0.2.2 Practical Significance

0.2.3 Methodological Significance

 0.3 Overview of the Book

PART I LITERATURE REVIEW

Chapter 1 Definitions and Theoretical Issues

 1.1 Definitions of Related Terms

 1.2 Nature of the Process of Language Assessment

1.2.1 Viewing the Process as Linear

1.2.2 Viewing the Process as Cyclic

 1.3 Role of the Rater in Language Assessment

1.3.1 Viewing the Rater as an Instrument

1.3.2 Viewing the Rater as a Constructor

 1.4 Unsettled Issues

 1.5 Summary

Chapter 2 Empirical Studies

 2.1 Studies of the Process of Language Assessment

2.1.1 The Process of Spoken Language Rating

2.1.2 The Process of Written Language Rating

 2.2 Studies of the Role of Raters in Language Assessment

2.2.1 Rater Traing

2.2.2 Rater Characteristics

 2.3 Introspective Methods

 2.4 Unsolved Questions

 2.5 Introducing the Present Study

 2.6 Summary

PART II METHODOLOGY

Chapter 3 Research Design

 3.1 TEM4-Oral

3.1.1 Descriptions of TEM4-Oral

3.1.2 Scoring Procedures of TEM4-Oral

 3.2 Three Pilot Studies

3.2. 1 Pilot Study One

3.2.2 Pilot Study Two

3.2.3 Pilot Study Three

3.2.4 Summary of Pilot Studies

 3.3 The Main Study

3.3.1 Research Questions

3.3.2 Subjects

3.3.3 Instruments

3.3.4 Data Collection

3.3.5 Data Analysis

 3.4 Summary

PART Ⅲ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Chapter 4 Constructing Rating Criteria

 4.1 Describing the Criteria Constructing Process

 4.2 Illustrating the Criteria Constructing Process

4.2.1 Constructing Content-Related Criteria

4.2.2 Constructing Form-Related Criteria

 4.3 Explaining Variations in the Application of Criteria

 4.4 Discussion

 4.5 Summary

Chapter 5 Constructing Scores

 5.1 The Relationship Between Three Assessment Categories

5.1.1 A Balanced Relationship

5.1.2 An Imbalanced Relationship

5.1.3 Discussion

 5.2 Evidence and Scoring Judgments

5.2.1 Negative Evidence Driven

5.2.2 Positive Evidence Driven

5.2.3 Combining Negative and Positive Evidence

5.2.4 Discussion

 5.3 The Cyclic Nature of the Scoring Process

5.3.1 A Cyclic Process in Assessing Three Categories

5.3.2 A Cyclic Process in Assessing Individual Categories

5.3.3 Discussion

 5.4 Summary

Chapter 6 A Model of Tape-Mediated Assessment

 6.1 Proposal of a Model of the Process of Tape-Mediated Assessment

6.1.1 General Depiction of the Model

6.1.2 Constructing Activities

 6.2 Comparison of the Model with Existing Models

6.2.1 Nature of the Process

6.2.2 Role of the Rater

 6.3 Summary

PART IV CONCLUSION

Chapter 7 Findings, Limitations and Implications

 7.1 Major Findings

7.1.1 The Nature of the Process

7.1.2 The Role of the Rater

 7.2 Implications

7.2.1 Theoretical Implications

7.2.2 Practical Implications

7.2.3 Methodological Implications

 7.3 Limitations

7.3.1 Methodological Limitations

7.3.2 Generalizability Limitations

 7.4 Suggestions for Future Research

 7.5 Summary

Bibliography

Appendices