<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD><TITLE>Announcement of the TOEFL COE 2011 Research Program</TITLE>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Via AAAL...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Calibri size=4></FONT></B></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Calibri size=4>ANNOUNCEMENT – TOEFL® COE 2011 RESEARCH PROGRAM</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></DIV></DIV>
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<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Preliminary applications described below should be submitted via e-mail to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><A href="mailto:Toeflrc@ets.org"><SPAN lang=en-us><B><U><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Toeflrc@ets.org</FONT></U></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>by</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><B><U></U></B><B><U> <FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>June 18, 2010</FONT></U></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Purpose -</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>TOEFL Committee of Examiners (COE) research grants are intended to support research on topics related to TOEFL as identified by the Committee of Examiners and Educational Testing Service. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Award Value</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><B></B><B></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><B> <FONT face=Arial size=2>–</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial> Studies involving the collection of new empirical data will normally be funded up to $125,000 USD. This amount will be</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>inclusive of institutional overhead.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Research Topics</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>1. VALIDATION</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>1.1 Compare the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I><I> <FONT face=Calibri>characteristics of tasks</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>used in one or more of the TOEFL iBT</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>sections (Speaking, Reading, Listening, Writing) with real-life academic</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>tasks.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>1.2 Compare</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I><I> <FONT face=Calibri>candidates 'performance</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>in one or more of the TOEFL iBT</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>sections (Speaking, Reading, Listening, Writing) with their performance on</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>real-life academic tasks.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>1.3 Compare the characteristics of TOEFL iBT reading, writing, listening,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>and/or speaking tasks with those used in one or more other assessments of English</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>for Academic Purposes.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>2. FACTORS RELATED TO TEST PERFORMANCE</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>2.1 Investigate the effects of international differences in keyboard configurations</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>on candidates' performance on the TOEFL iBT.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>2.2 Investigate the role of affective factors (e.g., test anxiety, attitudes,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>motivation) on TOEFL iBT performance.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN> </P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>3. ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>3.1 Investigate the effects of the TOEFL iBT on teaching and learning.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>3.2 Investigate approaches, practices, and materials used by test-takers to prepare</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>for the TOEFL iBT and analyze their usefulness.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>3.3 Investigate the effects of test preparation courses and materials on TOEFL</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>iBT test performance and English language proficiency.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>4. TEST USE</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>4.1 Investigate the ways in which TOEFL scores (iBT or institutional TOEFL)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>are used by intensive English institutes and English for academic purposes</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>programs preparing students for entry into higher education.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri size=4>4.2 Investigate the uses of TOEFL iBT scores and subscores (possibly combined</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>with other academic information) for one or more of the following decision making</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>purposes: (a) policy (admissions, financial support, licensing,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>accountability, immigration), (b) program (placement and promotion), or (c)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Calibri size=4>pedagogy.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>TOEFL iBT dataset and research instrument available to COE-funded researchers</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>The dataset and research instrument described below will be made available to principal investigators funded by the TOEFL COE research program if needed.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><I><FONT face=Arial>TOEFL iBT Public Use Dataset</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Three separate datasets from each of 2 test forms are available and include demographic information about test-takers (age, gender, native language, etc) and copies of relevant test material:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Wingdings size=2>§<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Set 1. Item level scores on all sections of the test for a random sample of 1,000 examinees from each form (2,000 examinees total).</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Wingdings size=2>§<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Set 2. Speech samples and the final score for each of six speaking tasks for 240 examinees, stratified by quartiles, from each form (480 examinees total).</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Wingdings size=2>§<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Set 3. Writing samples and the final score for each of two writing tasks for 240 examinees, stratified by quartiles, from each form (480 examinees total).</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I><FONT face=Arial>TOEFL iBT Form Creator software</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>A software application that creates a standalone application which administers TOEFL iBT items/sections/forms as specified by the researcher -- up to two complete forms. The TOEFL forms can be customized in a variety of ways (e.g., omitting items/sections, inserting pauses, changing timing) and can be administered on a local PC. For each test-taker, the form produces as output a scoring file as well as speaking samples (in .wav format) and/or writing samples (in .txt format) when appropriate.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Eligibility and Conditions -</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Applications are invited from faculty or staff members who are affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions (e.g., universities) with expertise in English language learning and assessment research. Proposals from members of the TOEFL COE and for-profit organizations are not eligible. These studies are not intended to serve as the basis for student theses or dissertations.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Each awardee will be required to submit interim and final reports and to appropriately acknowledge the support of the TOEFL program when disseminating the results of his or her work.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Application Process</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Interested applicants are required to submit an application as described below. Invitations to submit a full proposal will be issued to selected applicants based on the quality and cost effectiveness of the initial application.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>An application must include</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>1. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>A cover page specifying:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>a. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Title of proposed study</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>b. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Your name and contact information including address, e-mail, telephone</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>c. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>Date of submission</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>2. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>A précis of no more than 1000 words describing the topic you plan to address, a brief rationale, the research questions and design including the data to be collected (target population, sample size, etc, if relevant), the instruments to be used, and the analyses to be conducted that answer the research questions. The application should include a time line and a one-line estimate of the total cost, including institutional overhead. (A full budget is not required at the précis stage).</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>3. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>A one page description of the Principal Investigator’s qualifications (in short c.v. format).</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>4. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT face=Arial>The names and e-mail contact information for two people who are familiar with your work in this area.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Evaluation Criteria</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Invitations to submit a full proposal will be issued to selected applicants based on the quality of the précis. Précis will be evaluated in terms of the relevance to the identified topics, the feasibility and quality of the proposed research, the qualifications of the Principal Investigator, organizational capacity to conduct the research, and cost effectiveness. Evaluative comments on précis will be sent only to applicants who receive an invitation to submit a full proposal.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT face=Arial>Schedule</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><B><U><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>June 18, 2010</FONT></U></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><B></B><B> <FONT face=Arial>– Deadline for submission of application and précis.</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>July 30, 2010 – Response to précis.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>October 15, 2010 – Deadline for submission of full proposal.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>December 17, 2010 – Response to proposal.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>*************************************************</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Xiaoming</FONT> <FONT face=Arial size=2>Xi, Ph.D.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Senior Research Scientist</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></I><I><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Center for Validity Research, MS 09R</FONT></SPAN></I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></I><I><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Research & Development, ETS</FONT></SPAN></I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></I><I><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541</FONT></SPAN></I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><I></I></SPAN><I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></I><I><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tel: (609)7345658</FONT></SPAN></I><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>