Research and Validation Group
'The Research and Validation team brings together a wide group of specialists with complementary skills in: testing and assessment, statistical analysis and item-banking, applied linguistics, corpus linguistics, language learning/pedagogy, project and database management, administration and training, and library and publication skills.
This diversity enables us to build the specialist knowledge and skills base we need to be a leading international provider of high-quality assessment products.
Our statistical and psychometric studies and operational analysis provide important information about the reliability and validity of our exams – checking that they perform accurately and consistently.
The research we carry out extends from analysis of exam performance into the wider impact of language assessment on learning, teaching and the wider community.
We also take leading roles in a number of specialist research projects, such as SurveyLang and English Profile, which make important contributions to our knowledge about language learning and assessment.
Through publishing the findings of our research and making presentations in the public domain we also make a valuable contribution to the wider field of language assessment.
Finally, we are responsible for the quality management systems that help drive our search for excellence and continuous improvement, which we have described in The Principles of Good Practice.'
Dr Nick Saville
Director Research and Validation Group
Our people
You can find out more about the work of the Research and Validation team at their own dedicated website: http://research.CambridgeESOL.org
Dr Nick Saville
Director
Nick is responsible for planning and co-ordinating the work of the Research and Validation Group. His research interests include: the development and validation of tasks and rating scales for Speaking tests; the development of models for investigating test impact; the implementation of quality management systems (QMS) in test development and validation; and the uses of language assessment for migration and citizenship purposes. Nick is Cambridge ESOL’s representative to the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and is closely involved with the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and English Profile. He has published widely and is an associate editor of Language Assessment Quarterly. Before joining Cambridge ESOL in 1989, Nick worked at the University of Cagliari (Italy) and managed a test development project in Tokyo. He holds a PhD in language test impact from the University of Bedfordshire, and degrees in Linguistics and in TEFL from the University of Reading.
Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh
Assistant Director
Ardeshir leads on computer-based testing strategy and the development of associated IT systems as well as the statistical analysis of the examinations. His current interests include: IRT and item-banking, differential item functioning, and structural equation modelling. Ardeshir has extensive experience of test validation and has contributed to the design, development, validation, revision and evaluation of several internationally recognised language proficiency tests. He also has a strong background in computing and information technology. Ardeshir holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh (UK) on the comparability of language proficiency testing.
Dr Neil Jones
Assistant Director
Neil works on innovative developments including item-banking, the Cambridge ESOL common scale and computer-adaptive testing. His current interests are formative assessment, and the construction of multilingual language proficiency frameworks like the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Neil is Director of SurveyLang, an international consortium working to deliver the European Survey on Language Competences. Previously he worked as teacher and director of studies in several countries including Poland and Japan. He set up English teaching departments at university level, and worked on materials development, teacher training and multimedia study centres. Neil holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh (UK) on the application of item response theory.
Dr Hanan Khalifa
Assistant Director
Hanan’s role involves: setting the group’s research agenda, assessing reading, raising internal awareness of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and building arguments for assessment products. She represents Cambridge ESOL in EAQUALS special interest groups. Her research interests include: standard setting, qualitative research, ethical and fairness issues in educational assessment. Previously, Hanan worked within a university context and with international development agencies on the development of test batteries and item banks, ESP/EAP curriculum development, and educational reform. She also has extensive experience in capacity building, programme evaluation, and in conducting impact studies. Hanan holds a PhD in Language Testing from the University of Reading (UK).
Research and Validation team
To view other key members of the Research and Validation team, go to:
Worldwide offices
Our head office is based in Cambridge and we have offices throughout the world.
