A computer program for constructing language comprehension tests

摘要

The sentence verification technique (SVT) has become increasingly popular among educators and psychological researchers as a powerful means for constructing cost-effective, psychometrically valid tests of literal language comprehension. Instead of testing a reader or listener on a few details of information in a passage, an SVT test assesses comprehension over an entire text. This article reviews the SVT technique, why it was devised, and some of its advantages over traditional measures, and then discusses a program, now available, that automates and greatly simplifies the process of constructing SVT tests. The program is very powerful, and includes such features as an internal text editor and a measure of text readability.