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Simulation study: Seeking fairness in a high-stakes placement test
Get PDFThe primary objective of Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment (CDA) lies in problem solving processes to systematically categorize test takers in mastery/non-mastery groups. What is of concern is using some attributes in reading comprehension test item options which are suspected to bias, and is simulating unbiased test items in a reversed engineering attempt. To this end, 4200 PhD candidates who sat for the examination were randomly selected. A Q-matrix was constructed, and raw data were fed into the R-studio software. Two groups of female and male differences were considered for the Differential Item Functioning (DIF) detection based on the Deterministic Inputs, Noisy “and” Gate (DINA) model. Results of the simulation study revealed that in 100 times of item generations, items were non-significant in favor of gender bias. In conclusion, this study was an attempt to determine whether an item identified with DIF is a correct detection or failed to be identified in fine-grained details
Discourse competence: A key to enhancing IELTS scores for Vietnamese students
Get PDFIELTS has been one of the most reliable and widely selected test formats worldwide. In Vietnam, this test has been increasingly popular and used as a criterion for university admission. For its increasing significance, the question about how to improve the test scores has attracted attention from the publicity, and there came an agreement that improvements in language competence or proficiency work. There have been thousands of books published and millions of websites created to provide hints, tactics, and strategies for potential test takers. In this paper, the researcher would like to present her study, which delved into the effects of developing discourse competence for IELTS test takers. Sixty university students were randomly chosen and divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental one. They participated in a 12-week action research project. A survey questionnaire was assigned to get their opinions about the teaching approach. Findings indicate that students in the experimental group got better overall IELTS scores than those in the control group. Writing and speaking tests scored higher than the reading and listening ones. Mastery of discourse features affected reading and listening task types at varying degrees. Most agreed that improvements in discourse competence enabled them to satisfy the marking criteria of the writing and speaking test papers. For receptive skills, which are reading and listening, recognizing discourse patterns empowered them to control the time better and increase the accuracy of their answers. However, there were disagreements about incorporating discourse components into the existing syllabus. The difference in student competence, learning time, and motivation did affect the effectiveness of this pedagogy
Enhancing Pronunciation Learning through High Variability Phonetic Training: A Meta-analysis
Get PDFHigh-Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) has demonstrated effectiveness in second language (L2) acquisition. This study utilizes a meta-analysis to explore the influence of high variability on learning L2 pronunciation and identifies the factors that moderate this impact. The studies were collected using a keyword search in the SCOPUS database. In total, our meta-analysis incorporated 18 primary studies that presented results obtained from experimental and control group designs, encompassing a total of 22 effect sizes. The results of our meta-analysis revealed that the overall effect size of HVPT on L2 pronunciation was medium (g = 0.77). Specifically, the effect size was large for consonant sounds and lexical tones, particularly pronounced when utilized by advanced learners. For beginners, the effect size was medium. The context in which the training was conducted also played a role, with a medium effect size observed when sentences were used. Additionally, the number of talkers involved in the study influenced the effect size, with a medium effect size found when 5 to 8 talkers were included. In other cases, the reported effect sizes were either small or non-significant
Within the ‘Educational Chasm’: The Chilean ELT Textbook and the Development of Multimodal Literacy
Get PDFSince the mid-90s, a growing concern has emerged regarding text comprehension from a multimodal perspective. In the Chilean educational context, multimodality has been highlighted in the official programs of the Ministry of Education. The present study examines one of the official Chilean ELT school textbooks, investigating whether its reading comprehension questions align with the country’s interest in developing multimodal literacy. This analysis employs Unsworth et al.’s (2019) taxonomy for classifying question types to examine 17 while-reading sections, comprising 216 questions. The findings reveal a predominant focus on questions that can be answered by reading the written text without looking at the pictures as well as a lack of images in several reading passages. These results highlight the crucial role that teachers play in complementing the school textbooks, enabling students to develop multimodal literacy as well as the necessity for textbook designers to recognize the pivotal role of images in comprehending multimodal texts
Learning from Diane: Her Achievements and Profound Influence on Researchers and Language Teachers in China
Get PDFProfessor Diane Larsen-Freeman has been an enduring and highly influential contributor to the field of applied linguistics, English language teaching, in general, and especially grammar teaching. She has inspired many thousands of language teachers, student-teachers and academicians in applied linguistics. Her research in Second Language Acquisition and her later research interest in introducing complex systems to the field of applied linguistics has had a great impact on research in applied linguistics. The book she co-authored with Cameron put a completely different perspective on language and language studies. Her book on teaching approaches also attracted thousands of readers who specialize in language teaching. The video made on different teaching methods covered in the book is also a good demonstration helping learners identify the features of different methods. What’s more, her coinage of the word “grammaring” and the concept of form-meaning-use she advocated in the book series Grammar Dimensions has shed light on people’s understanding of grammar and grammar teaching, thus transforming the way of teaching grammar. Her numerous publications of influential books and papers have great impact on researchers and language teachers in China
The Role of ChatGPT in English Language Learning: A Hedonic Motivation Perspective on Student Adoption in Chinese Universities
Get PDFRecent advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly OpenAI’s ChatGPT, have transformed English language learning through Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) tools. This study examined the adoption of ChatGPT among university-level English learners employing the Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM). An online survey was conducted with 266 valid responses, analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to assess the key factors influencing ChatGPT adoption. According to the findings, the main factors influencing students’ inclination to utilize ChatGPT are perceived usefulness, boredom, and a sense of control. These findings highlight important considerations for integrating AI in English education, suggesting that practical AI tools must address both functional and motivational aspects of learning. The study offers insights for educators and developers in designing AI-driven language learning tools that align with students’ needs and motivations, potentially shaping the future of English education
The Role of Relationship Marketing on Customer Advocacy: An Empirical Investigation from Insurance Companies
Get PDFCustomer advocacy has compelling evidence in the business sector that may influence prospective customers to purchase a company's products and services. It is a recommendation of a product, service, or brand based on its performance that spreads by word-of-mouth. The insurance penetration in Nigeria, which is less than 1%, reflects a lack of client advocacy for insurance. Disseminating favorable information based on user experience impacts purchasing decisions, leading to increased revenue and profitability. The present research seeks to determine the impact of Relationship Marketing (RM) characteristics on consumer advocacy. The study used a survey research design. The survey included 375,000 estimated insurance service consumers in Lagos State, Nigeria. A sample of 1,650 customers was picked from certain Local Government Areas in Lagos State using a non-probability sampling method. An adapted and validated questionnaire on relationship marketing and market penetration in the insurance industry was used. The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the constructions varied from .76 to .90. One thousand six hundred fifty questionnaires were distributed, and 80% of them were completed and returned. The data were examined using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis for inferential statistics. The study indicates that relationship marketing has a substantial impact on customer advocacy in the insurance sector. The research recommends that insurance professionals use relationship marketing to impact customer advocacy in the insurance industry
Examining the Synergy Between Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit Functions
Get PDFThis study examines the symbiotic relationship between Internal Auditing (IA) and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), demonstrating how the efficiency of one function enhances the other. Specifically, it analyzes the influence of ERM on the IA function and investigates the role of internal auditors in the ERM implementation process, assessing how their involvement may optimize this process. Additionally, the study explores the potential repercussions of auditors' engagement in ERM on their independence and objectivity. Data for this research was gathered through questionnaires distributed to professionals in the field, with conclusions drawn based on the majority of responses. The findings reveal that an established ERM framework significantly boosts the efficiency of the IA process. Internal auditors can leverage ERM's comprehensive data to prioritize their auditing activities more effectively. Furthermore, the study concludes that the involvement of internal auditors in ERM, when confined to advisory capacities, does not compromise their independence or objectivity. This controlled participation ensures that auditors maintain their critical oversight capabilities while contributing to the management of enterprise-wide risks.
 
Financial Reporting Quality, CEO Age, and Investment Efficiency: Evidence from the U.S. Market
Get PDFFinancial Reporting Quality (FRQ) is crucial for the accurate representation of a company’s financial performance and position. Corporate documentation, such as annual reports, is used by managers to enhance their investment decisions. Better reporting could improve the investment decisions of managers, thus improving the Investment Efficiency (IE) of the company, avoiding both overinvestment and underinvestment. This study examines the impact of financial reporting quality on the firms' investment efficiency using accounting and stock data for U.S. listed firms from 2010 to 2022. The data were acquired through CRSP, Compustat and BoardEx databases. Our final sample consists of 10,350 firms yielding 70,939 firm-to-year observations. We adopted the Chen et al. (2011) approach defining FRQ and Biddle et al. (2009) for IE. Our results show that financial reporting quality is positively related to investment efficiency and that this positive effect is more pronounced in firms with aged CEOs. The study conducts robustness checks on these results by utilizing alternative empirical models. The results lend support to the theory by Biddle et al. (2009), suggesting that firms with high reporting quality are less likely to overinvest or underinvest. Moreover, this study extends the research by demonstrating that CEO age has an enhancing effect on the impact of financial reporting quality (FRQ) on investment efficiency (IE)
Analysis of the Regional Economic Structure in Mexico (2019-2021)
Get PDFThe objective of this research is to analyze the behavior of the dynamism and distribution of the economy in the regions of Mexico in the period 2019-2021. A brief explanation of economic growth and economic structure is provided, as well as the importance of territorial analysis for planning development strategies in the territories. The territorial analysis techniques applied in this work and the methodology for their implementation are explained. The work is based on the study of the dynamics and structure of the economy based on the "gross value added" indicator, which allows for measuring the contribution made by the different sectors in the municipalities. As a result of the research, the main economic activities within the regions of Mexico and those processes of structural change that have favored the development of the regions are identified. The most lagging sectors and the municipalities whose economic structure does not favor the dynamics demanded by their economic development are pointed out. Finally, a set of conclusions is reached that can be used to define strategies and public policies aimed at promoting investment and local economic development management