The measurement paradigm and role of mediators in dynamic assessment: A qualitative meta-synthesis

As dynamic assessment (DA) continues to come to prominence as a procedure that endeavors to ameliorate learner performance and further development through mediatorsʹ assistance with the intent of discerning learning potential, a plethora of research has delved into the applicability of DA in second/foreign language education. This article employed methodical procedures for qualitative meta-synthesis of the target research domain to synthesize available quantitative and qualitative primary research reports. The discursive reading and systematic review of research findings and discussions across study reports revealed a primary theme, that is, ʹDA: Shifting Focus from Postpositivism to Pragmatismʹ, and a shared set of 2 secondary themes, that is, ʹClassroom-Based L2 DA: Post-Achievement Test Conditionʹ and ʹMediatorsʹ Sense of Accountabilityʹ that can provide a refined worldview on DA and a window on contemporary opinions on the relevance of assessment to classroom context and can develop a more informed understanding of the ascendency of mediators over the effectiveness of DA.