Statistical Analyses for Language Testers

ISBN-13: 9781137018281 / Miękka / 2013 / 310 str.

Opis

'SALT' provides a step-by-step approach to the most useful statistical analyses for language test developers and researchers based on the programs IBM SPSS, Winsteps and Facets. Each chapter focuses on one particular type of analysis, for example, analysing how items in a test are performing or investigating the relationship between two variables. Each chapter begins with an introduction as to why this particular analysis is important for the language tester and then provides explanations about the terms and concepts which the reader will meet in the chapter.

The method for carrying out each analysis is then described in a systematic manner guiding the reader through the procedure for that particular analysis. The main aspects of the output files are then investigated and the results explained. Eleven of the book's appendices provide further opportunities for the reader to repeat many of the statistical procedures on different data sets. Questions guide the reader in checking their understanding of the statistical procedures and output tables.

The data files and erratum page for this title can be found under the Related Sites section of this page.

Recenzje

'SALT by Rita Green provides a concise and focused yet exhaustive and practical introduction to the use of statistical software packages that will be appreciated by language teachers and test developers, especially those who have little or no experience of dealing with statistics.' - Linguist

Spis treści

Foreword; J. Charles Alderson 1. Data Entry 2. Checking and Correcting Data Files 3. Item Analysis 4. Descriptive Statistics 5. Analysing Test Taker Feedback 6. Comparing Performance I: Means, Scatterplots and Correlations 7. Comparing Performance II: Parametric and Non-Parametric Analyses 8. Comparing Performance III: ANOVA 9. Factor Analysis 10. Creating a Control File and Convergence Table 11. Analysing the Convergence Table and Variable Map 12. Item and Person Statistics 13. Distracter Analysis 14. Creating and Running a Specifications File 15. Analysing the Iteration Report and Vertical Ruler 16. Raters and Item Measurement Reports Appendices

O autorze

Rita Green is an international consultant and trainer as well as an EALTA (European Association for Language Testing and Assessment) Expert Member. She has trained teams in numerous testing projects around the world including those in the fields of education, diplomacy, air traffic control and the military. Rita has directed courses in statistical analysis for over 15 years and runs a regular course in statistical analysis for language testers at Lancaster University, UK.