Language tester identity in policy contexts: A narrative analytical approach

Abstract Increasingly scholars are calling for language test developers and researchers to intervene in policy due to the recognized socio-political use of language tests and the potential ethical issues at stake when tests are used to enforce government policies. Research has shown that policy spaces may be highly demarcated with diverse expectations, stereotypes, and power dynamics. Language experts are just one voice amid an array of actors and interests, yet their perspective can aid in guaranteeing fair and just testing processes. However, insufficient research has examined how language testers actually use their expertise in policy. We sought to explore this novel research area using narrative analysis to examine the identity of language testers. Identity navigation framework and indexicality guided our analysis of four narratives told by language testers of their interactions with policymakers. The findings demonstrate four modes of engagement in relation to decision-making processes—Objective Expert, Critical Activist, Problem-solving Partner, and Issue Advocate. Different roles can complement each other and can contribute to the value of language expertise in policy settings.