CFP: TOEFL® COE 2009 RESEARCH PROGRA M

[Francis Hult]

Via AAAL...
 
ANNOUNCEMENT - TOEFL® COE 2009 RESEARCH PROGRAM 

Preliminary applications described below should be submitted via e-mail to TOEFLRC at ETS.ORG <mailto:TOEFLRC at ETS.ORG>  by July 1, 2008. 
Purpose - 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. Some of these topics lend themselves to either research syntheses or empirical investigations.

Award Value - Research syntheses will be funded up to $50,000 USD. Studies involving the collection of new empirical data will be funded up to $125,000 USD. These amounts will be inclusive of institutional overhead.

Research Topics 
1. Test Preparation 
1.1 Investigate how test-takers who have taken the TOEFL iBT prepared for the test and what they found to be useful. 
1.2 Document and analyze critically the range of methods and programs of test preparation for TOEFL iBT, their claims, components, evidence, and effectiveness. 

2. Test use 
2.1 Investigate current practices for using TOEFL iBT scores (total scores and/or subscores) in academic or other contexts for one or more of the following purposes: (a) policy (admissions, financial support, licensing, accountability), (b) program (placement and promotion), or (c) pedagogy.

2.2 Investigate test takers' interpretations and uses of TOEFL iBT score reports. 
3. Validation 
3.1 * Compare performance on the speaking section of TOEFL iBT with performance on direct assessments (e.g., interviews, peer or group interactions, or performance in classroom situations). 

3.2 * Investigate the extent to which discourse features of writing and/or speaking performance in TOEFL iBT vary with proficiency level, task type, and learner group.

3.3 Use content analysis to compare the constructs, domains, and span of proficiency level descriptors of TOEFL iBT with those in an established set of language standards such as the Common European Framework of Reference, TESOL Standards, Canadian Language Benchmarks, or another competency framework. 

3.4 Identify individual, institutional, and societal factors that, in addition to English language and academic proficiency, contribute to persistence and success in higher education.

*Examples of TOEFL iBT items, speaking or writing responses, and scoring rubrics will be provided for use in data collection, as needed.

Eligibility and Conditions - Applications are invited from individuals at not-for-profit organizations and institutions (e.g., universities) with expertise in English Language Learning and Assessment research. Proposals from unaffiliated individuals or for-profit organizations are not eligible. Principal Investigators must be faculty or staff members with the authority to represent their institution in negotiated contracts. These studies are not intended to serve as the basis for student theses or dissertations.

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

Application Process 
Interested applicants are required to submit an application as described below. Applications should not be longer than 4 pages. Invitations to submit a full proposal will be issued to selected applicants based on the quality and cost effectiveness of the initial application.

Application must include 
1. Cover page:
a. Title of proposed study 

					b. Your name and contact information including address, e-mail, telephone
					c. Date of submission 

2. A 500-600 word précis describing the topic you plan to address, a brief rationale, a short statement about the research questions and design, a time line, and a one- line estimate of the cost. The cost estimate should include institutional overhead. (A full budget is not required at the précis stage).

	3. A one page description of the Principal Investigator's qualifications (in short c.v. format) and the names of two references.

Evaluation Criteria 
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 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

Schedule 
July 1, 2008 - Deadline for submission of application and précis. 
August 1, 2008 - Response to précis. 
October 20, 2008 - Deadline for submission of full proposal. 
December 19, 2008 - Response to proposal. 

*********************************************************************** 
Xiaoming Xi, Ph.D. 
Research Scientist 
Center for Validity Research 
Research & Development Division, MS 07-R 
Educational Testing Service 
Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541 
Tel: (609) 7345658 

 
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