Donald E Powers
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 1662239 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Donald E Powers |
| PRENOMES | Donald E |
| SOBRENOME | Powers |
| ASSINATURA | POWERS D E |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Educational Testing Service |
| VERIFICADO | Não |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 14 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 2 |
| OBRAS COMO AUTOR | 14 |
| OBRAS COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 1980 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2021 |
| ÍNDICE H | 1 |
Predicting communicative effectiveness in the international workplace
In this study we examined the extent to which TOEIC® Speaking test scores relate to evaluations by professionals in the international workplace, the target language use domain of TOEIC tests. Linguistic laypersons in 10 countries were invited to participate in an online research survey. The survey incorporated a stratified sample of test-taker ( N = 99) responses to three representative tasks from the TOEIC Speaking test (reading a text aloud, re…
Facilitating the interpretation of English language proficiency scores
The aim of this study was to develop, for the benefit of both test takers and test score users, enhanced TOEFL ITP ® test score reports that go beyond the simple numerical scores that are currently reported. To do so, we applied traditional scale anchoring (proficiency scaling) to item difficulty data in order to develop performance descriptors for multiple levels of each of the three sections of the TOEFL ITP. A (novel) constraint was that these…
The incremental contribution of Toeic® Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing tests to predicting performance on real-life English language tasks
Typically, English language proficiency tests yield multiple scores – usually for each of the four traditional language domains. In order to maximize the usefulness of test scores, they may need to be accompanied by information concerning how they complement one another. Using self-assessments by some 2300 TOEIC test takers, this study aimed to show that language performance in a particular domain (speaking, for instance) can be predicted by usin…
Toefl iBT speaking test scores as indicators of oral communicative language proficiency
Scores assigned by trained raters and by an automated scoring system (SpeechRater TM ) on the speaking section of the TOEFL iBTTM were validated against a communicative competence criterion. Specifically, a sample of 555 undergraduate students listened to speech samples from 184 examinees who took the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Oral communicative effectiveness was evaluated both by rating scales and by …
Validity of Scores for a Developmental Writing Scale Based on Automated Scoring
A developmental writing scale for timed essay-writing performance was created on the basis of automatically computed indicators of writing fluency, word choice, and conventions of standard written English. In a large-scale data collection effort that involved a national sample of more than 12,000 students from 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade, students wrote (in 30-min sessions) up to four essays in two modes of writing on topics selected from…
Appropriateness of the Toeic® Bridge test for students in three countries of South America
In order to facilitate the interpretation of test scores from the TOEIC ® Bridge as a measure of English language proficiency, one form of the test was administered to more than 6000 test takers in three South American c ountries — Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. The appropriateness of the TOEIC Bridge test as a measure of English language skill was evaluated using several approaches, such as factor analysis and computation of correla tions between …
A teacher-verification study of speaking and writing prototype tasks for a new Toefl
This study was undertaken, in conjunction with other studies eld-testing prototype tasks for a new TOEFL, to evaluate the content validity, perceived authenticity and educational appropriateness of these prototype tasks. We interviewed seven highly experienced instructors of English as a Second Language (ESL) at three universities, asking them to rate their students’ abilities in English and to review samples of their students’ performance to det…
Validating the revised Test of Spoken English against a criterion of communicative success
A communicative competence orientation was taken to study the validity of test-score inferences derived from the revised Test of Spoken English (TSE). To implement the approach, a sample of undergraduate students, primarily native speakers of English, provided a variety of reactions to, and judgements of, the test responses of a sample of TSE examinees. The TSE scores of these examinees, previously determined by official TSE raters, spanned the f…
Analytical Reasoning Skills in Graduate Study
Additional informationNotes on contributorsDonald E. PowersDonald E. Powers is senior research scientist and Mary K. Enright is associate research scientist at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey.Mary K. EnrightDonald E. Powers is senior research scientist and Mary K. Enright is associate research scientist at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey
Academic demands related to listening skills
A literature review was conducted in order to identify various parameters underlying listening comprehension. The results of this review were used as a basis for a survey of faculty in six graduate fields as well as undergraduate English faculty. The purpose of the survey was to a) obtain faculty perceptions of the importance to academic success of various listening skills and activities, b) assess the degree to which both native and non-native s…
Relations of test item characteristics to test preparation/test practice effects
Relations of test item characteristics to test preparation/test practice effects
Selecting Samples for Testing the Hypothesis of Divisible Versus Unitary Competence in Language Proficiency
Studies have been designed to test whether language proficiency is a single global trait or whether it is divisible into several distinct competencies. Recent studies are reviewed and compared with a recent factor analytic study of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in several language groups. The comparison suggests that the characteristics of the sample, especially its proficiency in English, can lead to results that tend to supp…
The Effects of Special Preparation on SAT-Verbal Scores
Students at eight secondary schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that was given special preparation for the SAT-V or to a control group whose access to the same preparation was delayed for the purposes of the study. The programs of special preparation were those already in place at the schools. A special administration of the SAT served as the posttest. Special preparation resulted in an overall difference of eight points, o…
The Effects of Special Preparation on SAT-Verbal Scores
Students at eight secondary schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that was given special preparation for the SAT-V or to a control group whose access to the same preparation was delayed for the purposes of the study. The programs of special preparation were those already in place at the schools. A special administration of the SAT served as the posttest. Special preparation resulted in an overall difference of eight points, o…
The Effects of Special Preparation on SAT-Verbal Scores
Students at eight secondary schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that was given special preparation for the SAT-V or to a control group whose access to the same preparation was delayed for the purposes of the study. The programs of special preparation were those already in place at the schools. A special administration of the SAT served as the posttest. Special preparation resulted in an overall difference of eight points, o…
Selecting Samples for Testing the Hypothesis of Divisible Versus Unitary Competence in Language Proficiency
Studies have been designed to test whether language proficiency is a single global trait or whether it is divisible into several distinct competencies. Recent studies are reviewed and compared with a recent factor analytic study of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in several language groups. The comparison suggests that the characteristics of the sample, especially its proficiency in English, can lead to results that tend to supp…
Academic demands related to listening skills
A literature review was conducted in order to identify various parameters underlying listening comprehension. The results of this review were used as a basis for a survey of faculty in six graduate fields as well as undergraduate English faculty. The purpose of the survey was to a) obtain faculty perceptions of the importance to academic success of various listening skills and activities, b) assess the degree to which both native and non-native s…
Relations of test item characteristics to test preparation/test practice effects
Relations of test item characteristics to test preparation/test practice effects
Analytical Reasoning Skills in Graduate Study
Additional informationNotes on contributorsDonald E. PowersDonald E. Powers is senior research scientist and Mary K. Enright is associate research scientist at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey.Mary K. EnrightDonald E. Powers is senior research scientist and Mary K. Enright is associate research scientist at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey
Validating the revised Test of Spoken English against a criterion of communicative success
A communicative competence orientation was taken to study the validity of test-score inferences derived from the revised Test of Spoken English (TSE). To implement the approach, a sample of undergraduate students, primarily native speakers of English, provided a variety of reactions to, and judgements of, the test responses of a sample of TSE examinees. The TSE scores of these examinees, previously determined by official TSE raters, spanned the f…
A teacher-verification study of speaking and writing prototype tasks for a new Toefl
This study was undertaken, in conjunction with other studies eld-testing prototype tasks for a new TOEFL, to evaluate the content validity, perceived authenticity and educational appropriateness of these prototype tasks. We interviewed seven highly experienced instructors of English as a Second Language (ESL) at three universities, asking them to rate their students’ abilities in English and to review samples of their students’ performance to det…
Validity of Scores for a Developmental Writing Scale Based on Automated Scoring
A developmental writing scale for timed essay-writing performance was created on the basis of automatically computed indicators of writing fluency, word choice, and conventions of standard written English. In a large-scale data collection effort that involved a national sample of more than 12,000 students from 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade, students wrote (in 30-min sessions) up to four essays in two modes of writing on topics selected from…
Appropriateness of the Toeic® Bridge test for students in three countries of South America
In order to facilitate the interpretation of test scores from the TOEIC ® Bridge as a measure of English language proficiency, one form of the test was administered to more than 6000 test takers in three South American c ountries — Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. The appropriateness of the TOEIC Bridge test as a measure of English language skill was evaluated using several approaches, such as factor analysis and computation of correla tions between …
Toefl iBT speaking test scores as indicators of oral communicative language proficiency
Scores assigned by trained raters and by an automated scoring system (SpeechRater TM ) on the speaking section of the TOEFL iBTTM were validated against a communicative competence criterion. Specifically, a sample of 555 undergraduate students listened to speech samples from 184 examinees who took the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Oral communicative effectiveness was evaluated both by rating scales and by …
The incremental contribution of Toeic® Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing tests to predicting performance on real-life English language tasks
Typically, English language proficiency tests yield multiple scores – usually for each of the four traditional language domains. In order to maximize the usefulness of test scores, they may need to be accompanied by information concerning how they complement one another. Using self-assessments by some 2300 TOEIC test takers, this study aimed to show that language performance in a particular domain (speaking, for instance) can be predicted by usin…
Facilitating the interpretation of English language proficiency scores
The aim of this study was to develop, for the benefit of both test takers and test score users, enhanced TOEFL ITP ® test score reports that go beyond the simple numerical scores that are currently reported. To do so, we applied traditional scale anchoring (proficiency scaling) to item difficulty data in order to develop performance descriptors for multiple levels of each of the three sections of the TOEFL ITP. A (novel) constraint was that these…
Predicting communicative effectiveness in the international workplace
In this study we examined the extent to which TOEIC® Speaking test scores relate to evaluations by professionals in the international workplace, the target language use domain of TOEIC tests. Linguistic laypersons in 10 countries were invited to participate in an online research survey. The survey incorporated a stratified sample of test-taker ( N = 99) responses to three representative tasks from the TOEIC Speaking test (reading a text aloud, re…
Psychology (14 obras) · Mathematics education (12 obras) · Language proficiency (7 obras) · Linguistics (7 obras) · Psychometric Methodologies and Testing (6 obras) · Second Language Learning and Teaching (6 obras) · Student Assessment and Feedback (6 obras) · Computer Science (5 obras) · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning (5 obras) · Active listening (4 obras)