Zegarac, V. (2011) Emotions, Communication and Relevance, Plenary lecture at the Meaning, Context and Cognition Conference, University of Lodz, Poland, March 2011.
Weir, C. J. (2011) The historical frame of reference, ALTE 4th International Conference, Krakow, Poland, July 2011.
Weir, C. J. (2010) 1980-2010 Testing communicative language use, Language Testing Forum 2010, University of Lancaster, UK. November 2010.
Talks at workshops/seminars/courses
Bax, S. (2010) Keynote Speaker, 1st Workshop on Technological Innovation for Specialized Linguistic Domains: Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives, Madrid Spain, October 2010.
Bax, S. (2011) Talk at CRELLA summer seminar
Field, J. (2011) “Psycholinguistics and some myths of ELT”. Guest lecture, OUP Summer School, Exeter College Oxford.
Field, J. (2011) “Better listeners versus more listening: rethinking second language listening” Seminar, English Language Centre, University of Bedfordshire.
Green, A.B. (2011) Keynote Speaker: Functional Progression across the CEFR levels. English Profile Seminar. Tsinghua Science Park, Beijing, China. 26 August, 2011
Green, A.B. (2011) Invited workshop: Applying the English Profile in English Language Learning, Teaching and Assessment. English Profile Seminar. Tsinghua Science Park, Beijing, China. 26 August, 2011
Green, A.B. (2011) Invited workshop: Washback of University Entrance Tests in Japan. Society for Testing English Proficiency, Tokyo, Japan. 12 August 2011.
Green, A. B., Weir, C. J. and Nakatsuhara, F. (2011) University of Central Lancashire Examination Board Staff Training, University of Bedfordshire, February 2011
Green, A.B. (2011) The English Profile Can Do Survey. English Profile Research Seminar. Cambridge, UK, 11 February 2011
Green, A.B. (2010) Training in Item Writing for Testing Macedonian as a Foreign Language. Ljubljana, Slovenia, December 2010
Hamp-Lyons, L. (2011) Revisiting the ESP-ESAP-EAP assessment conundrum. Invited presentation to the Hong Kong Association for Applied Linguistics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKSAR. May 2011
Hawkey, R. (2010) The Common European Framework and the English Profile. Presentations to the Consejería de Educación of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, and the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas. October, 2010.
Hawkey. R. A. (2010) ALTE 3-day Testing Workshop for British Council IELTS staff, Hong Kong and China, Beijing. November 2010.
Hawkey. R. A. (2011) English Profile Programme, Network Seminar Series 2010 Criterial Features: towards Reference Level Descriptions of English, round-up presentation, Cambridge. February 2010.
Nakatsuhara, F. (2011) Part1: Investigating what oral interview tests are actually testing; Part 2: Some useful tips in collecting and analysing spoken test data, PhD Summer School in Linguistics, The Bristol Centre for Linguistics at the University of the West of England, July, 2011.
Nakatsuhara, F. (2011) Co-constructed conversation in paired and group oral tests, Tokai University, Japan, March 2011.
Nakatsuhara, F. and Nitta, R. (2010) Pre-task planning effects on beginning learners, CRELLA Winter seminar, December 2010.
Nakatsuhara, F. (2010) Group oral tests, Nagoya Gakuin University, Japan, November, 2010.
Nakatsuhara, F. (2010) Group oral tests: How do test-taker characteristics, task types and group sizes affect co-constructed discourse in groups?, Tokai University, Japan, November, 2010.
Zegarac, V. (2010) Situation: Communication, Culture and Relevance, Invited lecture presented in the School of English, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Poland, November 2010.
Zegarac, V. (2010) Situation: Communication, Culture and Relevance, Invited talk presented in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, October 2010.
Weir, C.J. (2010) ALTE language testing course, Bilbao, Spain, September, 2010.
Research activities
Bids awarded in 2010-11 academic year Table 1
No
Year
Title
Funding body
Duration
UoB Staff involved
Lead or Partner
Grant
1
2010
The relationship between test-takers’ listening proficiency and their performance on the IELTS Speaking test
IELTS Research Programme Round 15, The British Council
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F.
Lead
£15K
2
2010
Researching cognitive processes during computer-based reading tests
ELTRP award, The British Council
1 year
Bax, S. Deng. J.
Lead
£18K
3
2010
Investigating learners’ cognitive processes during computer-based CAE reading tests
Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Programme, Cambridge ESOL
1 year
Bax, S. Weir, C.J.
Lead
£15K
4
2010
Validating the assessment of English Language Skills at Foundation Level 2010 to 2013
English Language Testing
3 years
Green, A. B. Weir, C. J.
Lead
£81.6K
5
2010
Textual features of CAE reading texts compared with IELTS reading and essential undergraduate texts
Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Programme, Cambridge ESOL
1 year
Green, A. B. Weir, C. J.
Lead
£10K
6
2010
Producing reference level descriptions for English Language learning. (continuation of work started in 2006)
English Profile (iii)
4 months
Green, A.B. Weir, C. J.
Lead
£5K
7
2010
Password Intro: Testing the English language ability of lower level learners - A1 to B1
English Language Testing
1 year
Green, A.B. Weir, C. J.
Lead
£18.6K
8
2010
Developing assessment literacies and practice in Singapore schools
Singapore Ministry of Education
1 year
Bax, S, Green, T, Weir, C, Nakatsuhara, F
Lead
£32K
9
2010
Test of English for Academic Purposes (TEAP), Writing
STEP, Japan
1 year
Weir, C. J.
Lead
£12K
10
2010
Test of English for Academic Purposes (TEAP), Speaking
STEP, Japan
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F
Lead
£12K
11
2011
New insights into cognitive processes: researching IELTS reading tasks through eye-tracking technology.
IELTS Research Awards Round 16, The British Council
1 year
Bax, S. Weir, C. J.
Lead
£15K
12
2011
UCLEB staff training
University of Central Lancashire
1 year
Green, A.B. Weir, C.J. Nakatsuhara, F.
Lead
£9K
13
2011
Taiwanese University for internationalization
The British Council
3 months
Bax, S. Green, A.B. Weir, C.J. Nakatsuhara, F
Lead
£23K
14
2011
GEPT Writing project
LTTC, Taiwan
1 year
Weir, C.J. Nakatsuhara, F.
Lead
£17K
15
2011
TEAP Speaking Project
STEP, Japan
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F.
Lead
£10.8K
16
2011
TEAP Writing Project
STEP, Japan
1 year
Weir, C. J.
Lead
£17.5K
17
2011
TEAP Washback Project
STEP, Japan
1 year
Green, A. B.
Lead
£7K
18
2011
Promoting Sustainable Excellence in Testing and Assessment of English (PROSET)
European Union, TEMPUS IV
2 years
Green, A. B.
Lead
£150K
19
2011
Grading examiner interventions according to the listening demands they make on candidates in the GESE exams
Trinity College London
6 months
Nakatsuhara, F., Field, J.
Lead
£15K
20
2011
Investigating effects of pre-task planning between before and after study-abroad experience (Phase 2)
Grand-in-Aid for young Scientists, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
2 years
Nakatsuhara, F.
Partner
£4K
21
2011
Cognitive validity of CAE test, with reference to academic listening
Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Programme, Cambridge ESOL
1 year
Field, J.
Lead
£15K
22
2011
Cognitive validation of TOEFL iBT listening test
ETS, US
1 year
Field, J.
Lead
£66K
Pending bids
No
Year
Title
Funding body
Duration
UoB Staff involved
Lead or Partner
Grant
1
2011
Speaking test project in Saudi Arabia (with Al-Amri, S)
University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F.
Partner
max £6K
2
2011
English Profile Speaking test analysis
English Profile
1 year
Green, A. B.
Lead
£15K
3
2011
The role of second play in the IELTS listening test
The British Council
1 year
Field, J.
Lead
£15K
4
2011
Developing a test for Singaporean language school
Mr Sina, Singapore
-
Bax, S., Green, A.B., Nakatsuhara, F.
Lead
£15K
5
2011
Cognitive Pragmatics as a Framework for Developing Better CEFR Descriptors for Higher Proficiency Levels (B2, C1, C2) in English: A Pilot Study
Žegarac, V.
Lead
6
2011
The effects of emotional valence of ironical utterances on comprehension
The Leverhulme Trust
Žegarac, V.
Lead
Unsuccessful bids
No
Year
Title
Funding body
Duration
UoB Staff involved
Lead or Partner
Grant
1
2010
Comparing the impact of test-takers’ extraversion levels on performance in Part 3 of the FCE Speaking Test between paired and groups-of-three candidates
Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Programme, Cambridge ESOL
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F.
Lapwood, J.
Lead
£15K
2
2011
Reading and listening tests at NATO STANAG 6001 Levels 2-3 and 3-4
NATO
1 year
Weir, C. J., Green, A. B., Bax, S. Field, J.
Lead
£175K
3
2011
TOEFL® COE 2012 Research Programme
ETS, US
1 year
Bax, S.
Lead
£76K (US $125,000
4
2011
Comparing paired and group-of-3 test
ELTRPA, The British Council
1 year
Nakatsuhara, F. Lapwood, J.
Lead
£15K
Research Environment
International research partnerships
We continue to strengthen the research links between CRELLA and national testing organisations in Asia. In 2010, we made an important breakthrough in Japan. The Society for Testing English Proficiency (STEP), the premiere Japanese language testing organisation awarded us an initial contract for £24K to help them prepare a new test in English for entry to Japanese Universities in collaboration with the prestigious Sophia University in Tokyo. Following the successful work carried out for the initial contract, we have received a further contract for £35.3K to continue to help their test development for the coming academic year.
In 2010-2011, we were contracted by the Ministry of Education in Singapore to assist them in the development of assessment literacies and practice in Singapore schools.
For more than 10 years Prof. Cyril Weir has been advising the research team of the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT), developed by the Language Training & Testing Centre (LTTC) at National Taiwan University. He is currently an international member of their research committee, and the LTTC has recently awarded us a research grant for £18K to investigate criterion-related validity of the GEPT Advanced reading and writing tests in the coming academic year.
Prof. Weir continues his connection with the College English Test in China through his visiting professorship role at Shanghai Jiaotong where the test is based. Prof. Liz Hamp-Lyons is the international consultant for the NEEA-funded project to develop an assessment of 'Advanced Academic English Competence' for China (NEEA= National Educational Examinations Authority).
We are encouraging overseas academics in our field to visit and work with us in applying the socio-cognitive test validation framework developed in CRELLA to exam development in their own countries. In 2010-2011, we had a number of academic visitors.
Academic visitors
Mr Jie Deng (Assistant Professor, Hunan Normal University, P. R. China) Research Attachment March 2010 - Feb 2011.
Professor Grahame Bilbow (Director of English, the British Council in China) and Ms. Junhong Liang (Project Manager, the British Council in China) and ten senior Chinese education and examination authority representatives: the UK Study Tour for Senior Chinese Education and Examination Authority Delegates, May 2011.
Mr Jamie Dunlea (Chief research officer at STEP, Japan): to discuss CRELLA’s further involvement in the TEAP test development project, May 2011.
Mr R. Sina (Singapore Language Academy): To discuss a possibility of CRELLA’s involvement in the development of language assessment for language schools in Singapore.
Ms Gillian Davids (Academic Operations Manager for Kaplan International Colleges in the UK and Ireland) : to discuss a possibility of CRELLA’s involvement in their syllabus development, May 2011.
Ms Mina Patel (British Council, Malaysia): to discuss CRELLA’s involvement in research projects in Asia.
Research students
Degree awarded
Sarojani Devi (Malaysia) - September 2010
Investigating the academic reading of first-year undergraduates at a British university
Aylin Unaldi (Turkey) - December 2010
Investigating reading for academic purposes: sentence, text and multiple texts
Hanna Stoever (Germany) – June 2011
Metaphor in Second Language Acquisition
Weiju Liao (Taiwan) - June 2011
The cross-cultural adjustment of EFL expatriate teachers in Taiwan
Current students
Kozo Yanagawa (Japan) Validation of the Listening Comprehension Test of the Center Test in Japan in relation to contextual parameters and cognitive processing
Theo Maniski (UK) Using a dependency grammar model to compare texts
Burana Khaokaew (Thailand) An Investigation of Reading Strategies and the Effects of Strategy Instruction on EFL Reading: The Case of first-year Undergraduate English Major Students at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Thailand
Rachel Wu (Taiwan) Establishing the validity of a diagnostic test of Reading for Taiwan
Michael Corrigan (UK) Variation of dimensional structure across ability levels in language proficiency tests
Serge Korevaar (The Netherlands) The effect of interface-design on test outcomes of reading as a second language
Daniel Waller (UK) Benchmarking the UCLan examinations to the Common European Framework
Laurence Kinsella (UK, studying in UAE) Does targeted vocabulary learning help develop reading skills and promote rapid vocabulary acquisition?
Sathena Chan (Hong Kong) The relationships between real-life academic writing tasks and EAP reading-into-writing test tasks: contextual validity, cognitive validity and concurrent validity
Carolyn Westbrook (UK) Manipulating the relationship between input task characteristics and performance on oral and written output tasks
Paul Tucker (USA) Beyond Word Frequency: Developing a Multi-dimensional Profile of Lexical Proficiency at the Advanced Level
Suwimol Jaiyote (Thailand) The relationship between test-takers’ first language, listening proficiency and their performance on paired speaking tests
Joanna Kowalczyk (Poland) The Communication of Emotions in England and Poland: Compliments and Refusals
Nisreen Al Khawaldeh (Jordan) The Speech Act of Thanking by Jordanian Speakers of English: A Cross Cultural Longitudinal Pragmatic Study
Hussain Sivardeen (UK) Vocabulary Acquisition through Extensive Reading of Unsimplified English Material
Jamie Dunlea (Australia) Validating a framework of EFL proficiency tests in Japan: demonstrating that locally designed tests meet international standards
Ekaterina Kandelaki (Georgia) Title to be confirmed
Shumaila Memom (Pakistan) Title to be confirmed
Sanaullah Ansari (Pakistan) Title to be confirmed
Facilities and resources
We have been building up our library resources in the areas of language learning and assessment and research methodologies (£2,800 spent in 2010-2011). We have also purchased additional software packages for developing computer-based tests (i.e. Flash, Dreamweaver) and video and audio equipment that will also improve our service to research students.
We have recently launched a website offering free resources in language testing to the wider community, and we will continue to upload our discussion papers, presentation slides, useful publications, links to useful testing resources and assessment organisations, and so forth (http://www.beds.ac.uk/research/bmri/crella/resources). The website will benefit not only our research students but also all researchers and students in the field of language testing.
Conferences/seminars
As well as our programme of monthly research seminars in the department, we continue to hold two annual whole day research seminars: CRELLA Summer Research Seminar (held in July of each year) and CRELLA Winter Research Seminar (held in December each year). These events bring together CRELLA staff, MA students and PhD students, as well as outside speakers. They offer the opportunity for research students and staff to present and discuss their research in a congenial and supportive atmosphere. These events are also accessible via the internet for students working off-campus. The summer seminar in July 2011 was so successful that it attracted 28 participants including delegates from several UK universities and international exam boards.
Staff development
We had monthly meetings to discuss our REF strategy, and weekly Staff Development meetings which are aimed at developing junior researchers as well as existing staff members through discussion/review of, for example: grant application plans and drafts and publication plans and drafts.
We are actively encouraging and supporting all staff and students to present at conferences and will continue to do so. In this year, four PhD students (Paul Tucker, Daniel Waller, Aylin Unaldi and Michael Corrigan) presented their research at Association of Language Testing in Europe in Poland, and Sathena Chan presented at Language Testing Forum at University of Lancaster. Staff presented at the numerous conferences listed above with our support or by sponsored invitation.
Action Plan for 2011-2012 Staffing
With the REF two years away, we are looking to maximise the financial return for CRELLA. We would like to increase the percentage time of Dr John Field, currently on a 0.5 contract and of Dr Lynda Taylor, currently on a 0.2 contract, so HEFCE is convinced of their contribution at an enhanced FTE. Consideration will be given to employing a further FT researcher if PhD numbers continue to escalate and we gain further research contracts.
Outputs 2011-2012 Publications
We will continue to publish regularly in high quality journals and with leading publishing houses such as OUP/CUP. Our forthcoming books, chapters and journal papers are listed below.
Forthcoming books
Bax, S. (forthcoming) Intertextual Reading Peter Lang.
Field, J. (contracted) Language and Mind: Issues in Psycholinguistics. Cambridge: CUP
Field, J. (proposal submitted). Psycholinguistics and Second Language Skills. Oxford: OUP
Green, A.B. (forthcoming 2012) Language Assessment and Testing. Routledge Introductory Textbooks for Applied Linguistics.
Milanovic, M. and Hawkey, R. A. (forthcoming) A History of Cambridge UCLES EFL and Cambridge ESOL Exams. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nakatsuhara, F. (forthcoming) The Co-construction of Conversation in Group Oral Tests. Peter Lang.
Taylor, L. ed. (2011, September) Examining Speaking: Research and practice in assessing second language speaking. Studies in Language Testing 30. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, L.andWeir, C. J. eds. (2012, January) IELTS Collected Papers 2: Research in reading and listening assessment. Studies in Language Testing 34. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Geranpayeh, A and Taylor, L (eds) (forthcoming) Examining Listening:Research and practice in assessing second language listening. Studies in Language Testing 35. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Zegarac, V. (forthcoming) Understanding Communication: An Introduction to Pragmatics. London: Continuum.
Weir, C. J. and Vidakovic, I. (forthcoming) Measured Constructs: A history of the constructs underlying English language examinations 1913-2012. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Forthcoming chapters
Field, J. (2011, September) “Cognitive validity”, in Taylor, L. (ed.) Examining Speaking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Field, J. (2012) “Cognitive validity”, in Ardeshir, G. and Taylor, L. (eds.) Examining Listening: Theory, practice and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Field, J. (2012) “The myth of phonological representation”, in Grant, L. (ed.) Myths of Pronunciation Teaching, University of Michigan Press.
Field, J (2012) “Intelligibility and the L2 listener” in Reed, M. Intelligibility. John Benjamins.
Field, J. (2012) “The cognitive validity of the lecture-based paper in the IELTS listening test”, inTaylor, L.andWeir, C. J. eds. (2012, January) IELTS Collected Papers 2: Research in reading and listening assessment. Studies in Language Testing 34. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Green, A. B. and O’Sullivan, B. (2011, September) “Test-taker Characteristics” in Taylor, L. (ed.) Examining Speaking: Theory, practice and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hawkey R. A. (2011, September) “Consequential Validity” in Taylor, L. (ed.) Examining Speaking: Theory, practice and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hawkey. R. A. (forthcoming) “Consequential Validity” in Geranpayeh, A (ed.) Examining Listening: Theory, practice and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nakatsuhara, F. (2011) “The relationship between test-takers’ listening proficiency and their performance on the IELTS Speaking test” in Taylor, L.andWeir, C. J. eds. (2012, January) IELTS Collected Papers 2: Research in reading and listening assessment. Studies in Language Testing 34. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, L. (2011) “Accommodation in Language Testing” in Coombe, C., O’Sullivan, B., Davidson, P., and Stoynoff, S. (eds.) The Cambridge Guide to Language Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Žegarac, V. (forthcoming) “Metadiscourse Markers in IELTS Texts and in Textbooks for Undergraduate Students”, in IELTS Research Reports, British Council.
Žegarac, V. (forthcoming) “Phatic Communication” in Cummings, L. (ed.) The Routledge Encyclopedia of Pragmatics.
Zegarac, V. (forthcoming) “Compliments and Refusals in England and Poland” (co-authored with Joana Bhatti).
Zegarac, V. (forthcoming) “Emotions, Communication and Relevance” (co-authored with Joanna Bhatti).
Weir, C. J., Hawkey, R. A., Green, A. B., Devi, S. and Unaldi, A. (forthcoming) “The Relationship Between the Academic Reading Construct as Measured by IELTS and the Reading Experiences of Students in Their First Year of Study at a British University” inTaylor, L.andWeir, C. J. eds. (2012, January) IELTS Collected Papers 2: Research in reading and listening assessment. Studies in Language Testing 34. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Weir, C. J., Hawkey, R. A., Green, A. B. and Devi, S. (forthcoming) “The Cognitive Processes Underlying the Academic Reading Construct as Measured by IELTS” inTaylor, L.andWeir, C. J. eds. (2012, January) IELTS Collected Papers 2: Research in reading and listening assessment. Studies in Language Testing 34. Cambridge: UCLES/Cambridge University Press.
Forthcoming journal papers or journal papers under review
Bax,S. (under review) “In Search of an Educational Third Space: Intercultural Communication in Asynchronous Online Discussion Forums”
Field, J (2012) “Second Language Listening: Research and Practice”. Commissioned paper, Language Teaching.
Galaczi, E., ffrench, A., Hubbard, C. and Green, A.B. (forthcoming) “Developing Assessment Scales for large-scale speaking tests: The value of multiple methods” Assessment in Education.
Hamp-Lyons, L. (forthcoming). “Written examinations: Language for education, power and control across two thousand years: State of the Art article” Language Teaching.
Hawkey. R. A. (under review) “Building Language Assessment Effectively into Curriculum Design” Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics
Taylor, L. (under review) General Language Proficiency (GLP): Reflections on the ‘issues revisited’ – based upon an invited plenary paper given at the Language Testing Forum in Lancaster, November 2010.
Zegarac, V. (forthcoming) “Metadiscourse markers in IELTS texts and in textbooks for undergraduate students, forthcoming” The English Profile Journal.
Unaldi, A. and Weir, C. J. “Assessing careful reading ability in academic settings. Testing beyond the sentence: a sine qua non?” English Profile Journal.
Research funding
CRELLA has been actively engaged in bidding activities, and the research income which CRELLA attracted during 2010-2011 was substantial. As shown in the report above, in 2010-2011, we submitted 32 bids, 22 of which were successful, 7 pending and 3 unsuccessful. This demonstrates in financial terms the success of CRELLA’s research activity and its recognition in national and international spheres now that we have grown the centre to a critical mass. It clearly demonstrates once again that when we carefully expand our staff we generate more than sufficient extra income to cover their costs. A point that Finance seems unable to grasp.
CRELLA will continue to identify successfully opportunities for research funding, and continue to work with;
commercial partners on test research and development projects such as Password
international examining boards such as Cambridge ESOL, ETS (US) and Trinity College London on research and development studies
overseas national and international testing organisations such as STEP (Japan), LTTC (Taiwan) and ALTE (Europe)
overseas Ministries of Education such as Singapore and Russia
research partners such as the Cambridge University Research Centre for English and Applied Linguistics and the University of Nottingham on English Profile
We will also continue to use this income to further CRELLA’s research aims so as to ensure greater impact and sustainability, investing for example in increasing the percentage time of the above mentioned part-time staff members, as well as in staff and student development.
Research Environment 2011-12 Improving the research environment
PhDs
The recent appointments of Dr John Field (in March 2011) and of Dr Lynda Taylor (in August 2011) have increased our capacity for PhD supervision as well as allowing us to offer a broader range of expertise in the area of language learning. Dr. Fumiyo Nakatsuhara, who joined CRELLA as a Research Assistant in February 2009, was appointed as a Lecturer in October 2010 and has begun to play a role in research supervision.
We hope the above three appointments will enhance our capacity to deal with the ever increasing flow of PhD applicants. We have nearly doubled our PhD numbers in a year and we expect further expansion in 2011-12. In the last 6 months, we have been contacted by approximately one applicant a week for PhDs, and have interviewed many of them on Skype. Among these applicants, 7 students have been accepted to start their PhDs with us during the academic year 2011-2012 and one student has been informally accepted subject to revising her proposal. It is likely that we will have over 25 PhD students registered in CRELLA by January 2012. Current registration is at 19 with only 5 FTE members of staff.
In addition to the six PhD completions so far in this REF period, we expect a further two students to complete over the coming six month period.
Conferences/seminars
As well as our programme of monthly research seminars in the department, we will continue to hold two annual whole day research seminars: CRELLA Summer Research Seminar (held in July of each year) and CRELLA Winter Research Seminar (held in December each year). These events bring together CRELLA staff, MA students and PhD students, as well as outside speakers. They offer the opportunity for research students and staff to present and discuss their research in a congenial and supportive atmosphere. These events are also accessible via the internet for students working off-campus. In this REF period, we intend to hold a joint conference with the BAAL Testing, Assessment and Evaluation Special Interest Group, and another international conference.
Staff development
We will continue with monthly meetings to discuss our REF strategy, and with our weekly Staff Development meetings which are aimed at developing junior researchers as well as existing staff members through discussion/review of, for example: grant application plans and drafts and publication plans and drafts.
We are actively encouraging and supporting all staff and students to present at conferences and will continue to do so.
International partnerships
We will strengthen the research links between CRELLA and national testing organisations in Asia.
3.5. ResCAF Report
Research output
Publications 2010-11 Books, Proceedings Edited & Chapters in Books
1. Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Review of Management Accounting Research, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire, ISBN 978-0-230-25237-0.
2. Abdel-Kader, M., Moufty, S. And Laitinen, E. (2011), Balanced Scorecard Development – A Synthesis of Literature, In Abdel-Kader (Ed), M., Review of Management Accounting Research, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire, ISBN 978-0-230-25237-0.
3. Wadongo, B. and Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Performance Management Practices in Non-Profit Organisations, In Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Review of Management Accounting Research, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire, ISBN 978-0-230-25237-0.
4. Kennedy, M. (Ed) (2010) Proceedings of UK Chapter of the Systems Dynamics Society Annual Gathering, London, UK, Published by South Bank University Press.
5. Mkumbuzi, W. and Rasaratnam, S., 2011. Issues in Financial Reporting, Pgs 68.
Journal papers
1. Abdel-Kader, M. and Nguyen, T. (2011), An Investigation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation in a Small Firm – A Study of Problems Encountered and Successes Achieved, International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 18-40.
2. Bell, G.A., and Warwick, J., and Kennedy, M (2010) “First Year Experiences and Retention Rates”, BMAF Magazine, Issue 9, p 19
3. Kennedy, M. (2011) "Cybernetics and system dynamics: impacts on public policy", Kybernetes, Vol. 40 Iss: 1/2, pp.124 – 140
4. Tse,C-B, Rodgers, T. (2011) Can corporate tax shields explain the long-term borrowing behaviour of Chinese listed firms? International Review of Financial Analysis, Vol. 20:2, pp. 103-112.
5. Tse,C-B , Pak, M.S. (2011) A study of the incremental power of using statement of cash flows ratios in predicting companies? failure in Malaysia. Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, Vol. 23, pp. 239-288.
6. Tse,C-B,(2010) Rethinking MBA accounting module teaching, assessment and curriculum design
International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, Vol.18:1, pp. 58 ? 65.
7. Tse,C-B, Rodgers, T. (2011) West meets East: Financing behaviour of listed firms in China. International Accountant, Association of International Accountants, Issue 60, pp. 22-23.
8. Tse,C-B, Rodgers, T. (2011) Does industry membership matter in capital structure decisions? University of Bedfordshire Business School, Working Paper, Vol. 1:1.
9. Tse,C-B, Rodgers, T. , Niklewski, J. (2011) The financial crisis and the UK residential housing market: has the relationship between interest rates and house prices changed? Coventry University, Working Paper.
10. Tse,C-B, Rodgers, T. (2010) The capital structure of Chinese listed companies: does industry membership matter? , Coventry University, Working Paper.
Refereed conference papers and presentations
1. Abdel-Kader, M. and Abdel-Maksoud, A. (2011), Operational Performance Indicators, Innovative Managerial Practices, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Operational Staff Involvement in Firms: An International Comparative Analysis, European Accounting Association Congress, Rome, 19-22 April.
2. Wadongo, B. and Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Performance Management Practices in Non-Profit Organisations: Unanswered Questions for Management Accounting Researchers, National Conference of the British Accounting and Finance Association, Aston University, Birmingham, 12-14 April.
3. Elgharbawy, A. and Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Towards a Contingency Framework for Enterprise Governance: Value-Based Management Approach, National Conference of the British Accounting and Finance Association, Aston University, Birmingham, 12-14 April.
4. Jabbour, M. and Abdel-Kader, M (2011), The Impact of Enterprise Risk Management Strategies on Capital Allocation in Insurance Companies, National Conference of the British Accounting and Finance Association, Aston University, Birmingham, 12-14 April.
5. El-Tawy, N. And Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), A Grounded Theory Analysis of the Pre-Measurement Phase for the Accounting Recognition of Assets, National Conference of the British Accounting and Finance Association, Aston University, Birmingham, 12-14 April.
6. El-Daly, M.K. and Abdel-Kader, M. (2011), Framework for Governmental Audit Oversight in Developing Countries: Case Study from Egypt, National Conference of the British Accounting and Finance Association, Aston University, Birmingham, 12-14 April.
7. Kennedy, M. Developments in System Dynamics Pedagogic Techniques, Conference Proceedings, The 2011 International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, July 24 – 28, 2011, Washington, USA
8. Kennedy, M. Developments in System Dynamics Models of Educational Policy Issues, Conference Proceedings, The 2011 International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, July 24 – 28, 2011, Washington, USA
9. Tse, C-B. Dividend signalling: desperate times call for desperate measures, paper presented in International Finance and Banking Society Conference, Rome, June 2011.
