Revisits Felix's (1988) and Birdsong's (1994) theories regarding universal grammar. Birdsong's criticism of Felix is upheld by consideration of a statistical model of the data. (Author/VWL)

Presents 10 keys for teachers seeking to understand statistical reasoning and research design. The first six keys cover basic definitions to statistics. Keys 7 to 10 help teaches grasp the principles underlying the design and interpretation or research. (Author/VWL)

The aim of the book is to serve for clinical, practical, basic and scholarly practices. In twentyfive chapters it covers the most important topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders in the efficient way and aims to be useful for health professionals in training or clinicians seeking an update. Different people with autism can have very different…

Research in second or foreign language learning indicates that for adult learners, the improvement of one language skill facilitates the development of other skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations among Chinese EFL students' reading, writing, and listening development by examining their test scores on the College…

This document describes the breadth of the research being conducted in 2008 by the Research and Development Division at Educational Testing Service (ETS). The research described falls into three large categories: (1) Research supported by the ETS research allocation; (2) Research funded by testing programs at ETS; and (3) Research funded by…

We provide data 3 to 4 years postintervention for four samples of English language learners from two sequential Grade 1 cohorts who received supplemental Grade 1 reading interventions in Spanish or English and for whom the language of instruction for intervention was matched with language of core reading instruction. Participants were 300 students…

This study compared first and second language (L1/L2) reading rate and task performance on five tasks (scanning, skimming, normal reading, learning, memorizing) in two groups of Mandarin speakers (Canada group, China group). A repeated measures ANOVA design was used with one between-subject factor (Group), two within-subject factors (Language,…

This issue brief contains statistical information on the number of adults participating in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) courses in the United States. Particular questions addressed include these: Which non-english speaking adults have taken or may be interested in taking ESL classes? Why did ESL participants take the classes, and how did…

Provides a partial characterization of the nature of language aptitude through correlations and factor analyses of the Modern Language Aptitude Test and Primary Mental Abilities Test. Also discusses whether second-language learning ability is better conceptualized as a unitary or a composite factor. (EKN)

Argues that crossing the boundaries between sociolinguistics and second language acquisition (SLA) is essential to both fields of study. Specifically, data collected in an investigation of the SLA of copula choice by 77 English-speaking learners of Spanish are examined in terms of similarities to data collected in studies of language change.…

Describes a statistical method for evaluating the translation equivalence of language test items that are scored dichotomously. Provides an illustration of the method to a portion of the verbal subtest of the Psychometric Entrance Test, which is a large-scale postsecondary admissions test used in Israel. (VWL)

Argues that mental translation during second-language (L2) reading may facilitate the generation and conservation of meaning by allowing the reader to represent portions of L2 text that exceed cognitive limits in a familiar, memory-efficient form. The study presents hypotheses and questions for future research. (68 references) (Author/CK)

Based on a survey of over 1,000 learners of 10 different languages at different levels of instruction, this study collected and analyzed data over a 3-year period to compare the beliefs about language learning reported in the present study with those of Horwitz's (1988). (Author/VWL)

Statistical analysis tools in language testing are described, chiefly classical test theory and item response theory. Computer software for statistical analysis is briefly reviewed and divided into three tiers: commonly available; statistical packages; and specialty software. (Author/VWL)

Substantial research has been done on gender differences in relation to various aspects of learning and teaching. In the field of language learning learner's gender and its relationship with emotional (affective) components of language study has been a subject of numerous academic inquiries. These studies have focused on female and male students'…