Developing English Reading Comprehension Tests for Grade Eight Students of Junior High Schools

摘要

This research study was aimed at developing qualified English reading comprehension tests for grade eight students of Junior High Schools.udThis study was a research and development (R&D) study employing a procedural model consisting of a needs assessment, prototype product development, product development, product reviewing, test item analysis, product revisions, product tryouts and developed final product. The respondents involved in the study included an English evaluation expert, six Junior High School English teachers, 68 students of Junior High School (SMP) Pangudi Luhur Moyudan, Sleman for the preliminary field test, and 201 grade eight students of SMP Pangudi Luhur Kalibawang, Kulon Progo, SMP Pangudi Luhur Sedayu, Bantul and SMP Joannes Bosco Yogyakarta for main field test. The data were collected through interview, test item analysis, and English reading comprehension tests. The instruments for collecting data were interview guide, the test item analysis sheets and an English reading comprehension test answer sheets. The obtained data from the interview and the test item analysis were analyzed descriptively, while the score test data were analyzed employing Quest computer program.udThe product of this research was a set of English reading comprehension tests for grade eight students of Junior High Schools consisting of 105 multiple choice test items. The tests were divided into two types; type A consisted of 48 items and type B consisted of 57 items. The tests characteristics can be described as follows. The validity of the product was high since it was analyzed by six English teachers and one English evaluation expert. The product was appropriate with the Rasch model (IRT 1 PL) based on the MNSQ INFIT values (0.77-1.30) both in the small and large scale product of tryout. The item difficulty level was at range of ±2.00 based on the size of the threshold or INFIT t values. The test reliability coefficient for the final product was 0.98 for the test type A and 0.96 for the test type B