The predictive value of gaze behavior and mouse-clicking in testing listening proficiency: A sensor technology study

Abstract

This study employed eye-tracking and mouse click frequency analysis to investigate the predictive power of gaze behaviors, mouse-clicking, and their interactive effects with linguistic backgrounds on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) listening test scores. A total of 77 test takers (45 with English as their first language (E-L1) and 32 with English as their second language (E-L2)) participated in this study. Their eye movements and mouse click frequencies were recorded as they took a computer-based IELTS listening test. The subsequent data analysis, utilizing linear mixed models, showed that gaze patterns, mouse actions, and language background significantly predicted listening test outcomes across four listening test sections and between E-L1 and E-L2 candidates, accounting for 33.2% of the variance observed in test scores. These results indicate the effect of potential sources of construct-irrelevant variance on test scores, which are not predicted in the available construct definitions of the test used in the study. Implications for the listening construct and test validity are discussed.