Pearson Language Tests (PLT) is part of Pearson plc, the world's leading international education and information company. PLT delivers the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) endorsed by Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®). PLT also delivers Pearson Test of English General (PTE General) and Pearson Test of English Young Learners (PTE Young Learners) in association with Edexcel, one of the largest examining bodies in the UK.
PLT cordially invites researchers in the field of language testing and assessment, second/foreign language education, linguistics, applied linguistics, and other related areas of research to participate in our 2010 external research programme. We offer support for non-funded research, funded research, as well as graduate internships for the duration of up to 18 months, starting in March 2010.
Non-funded research
Non-funded research is open to anyone who is interested in large-scale language test datasets, especially,
- Faculty members
- Freelance researchers
- Graduate students
Language test data from over 10,000 test takers can be provided free of charge, depending on the suitability of the proposed research.
Funded research
Funded research is offered to:
- Faculty members or qualified freelance researchers. PLT will provide a maximum of £10,000 for this type of research.
- Doctoral students who are preparing for their Ph.D. thesis in relevant research areas. PLT will provide a maximum of £2,000 for this type of research.
- Master students who are preparing for their M.A. /M.Ed. /M.Sc. thesis in relevant research areas. PLT will provide a maximum of £1,000 for this type of research.
Graduate internships
Graduate Internships are offered to graduate students with research interests in the relevant areas. Successful internship applicants will be required to work at the PLT London office (Pearson Language Tests, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, UK). PLT will provide a reasonable subsidy towards relevant travel costs.
All successful applicants will also be required to show proof of their legal rights to accept employment in the UK.
Research topics
PLT encourages researchers to address the following research topics:
- Language testing/assessment (e.g., construct validation, washback, scaling, test performance in relation to CEF, levels of performance in relation to academic success, computer assisted language testing)
- Language learning/acquisition (e.g., learning listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, and spelling, computer assisted language learning and learning behaviour)
- Language teaching (e.g., teaching methods, academic vocabulary, teaching listening, speaking, readying, writing)
- Corpus linguistics (e.g., corpus in developing, validating and standardizing language tests, academic register, frequency, collocation, comparative studies of test performance with less formal interactions, applying corpus findings to specific groups)
Other relevant research topics will also be considered. We particularly welcome PTE Academic-related research proposals.
Application process
Applicants should submit the following:
- A completed application form – please fill out the correct form
- C.V. – from all researchers involved
- A two-page proposal (single-spaced, 12 font) – only required for funded research
- Timeline of the proposed study
Selection criteria
Proposals will be selected according to the following criteria:
- Sound theoretical foundation
- Clearly structured methodology
- Promising contribution(s) to the field of second/foreign language testing
- Feasibility of the research, given the budget and timeline
Important dates
- 28 February 2010 – deadline for receipt of all application materials
- 15 March 2010 – selection of funded research
- 31 March 2010 – selection of non-funded research
- 1 April 2010 – selection of graduate internships
If you have any further questions, please contact us.