Statistical Analyses for Language Testers

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.

Table of Contents

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

Appendix 1: Data Files
Appendix 2: Data Spreadsheet
Appendix 3: Item Analysis
Appendix 4: Descriptive Statistics
Appendix 5: Comparing Performance I: Means, Scatterplots and Correlations
Appendix 6: Comparing Performance II: Parametric and Non-Parametric Analyses
Appendix 7: Comparing Performance III: ANOVA
Appendix 8: Factor Analysis
Appendix 9: Creating a Control File, Convergence Table and Variable Map
Appendix 10: Item and Person Statistics
Appendix 11: Distracter Analysis
Appendix 12: Creating a Specifications File, Iteration Report and Vertical Ruler
Appendix 13: Rater and Assessment Criteria Measurement Reports