درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

The present study examined the comparability of Paper-Based (PB) and Computer-Delivered (CD) IELTS in the academic module reading section, focusing on Iranian IELTS candidates' cognitive and metacognitive strategies. The study intended to determine if the delivery mode had any impact on the use of these strategies. To this aim, 200 upper-intermediate learners were randomly selected and divided into two groups to participate in the study under the two aforementioned test conditions. They completed a test-taking strategy survey under both test conditions. Moreover, five participants from each test condition group took part in think-aloud protocols. The quantitative data were analyzed by means of Independent-sample t-test and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to test the research hypotheses. Content analysis of the think-aloud protocols was also conducted to identify the strategies employed by the IELTS candidates in both PB and CD formats. The results revealed that the PB group had a significantly higher mean than the CD group on the cognitive and metacognitive processes used in academic IELTS. However, the think-aloud protocols indicated that, in many cases, these differences were minimal, with cognitive and metacognitive processes being similarly employed across both formats. Moreover, significant differences were observed between the PB and CD groups in their reading test-taking strategies. The implications of these findings for test preparation and design are discussed.

The purpose of study is Identifying the factors affecting the establishment of "quality culture" and effective factors in the quality of virtual education of Farhangian University.The research method was a two-stage combined exploratory exploration. In the qualitative section, using a semi-structured interview technique, 23 academic and thematic experts were interviewed in a purposeful manner from educational and research centers and the research method in the qualitative part is foundational data theorizing, which seeks to create a theory, model and pattern (Sharmaz, 2007: 462),. A descriptive-survey method has been used in the quantitative part. To analyze the data in order to evaluate the fit of the proposed model from confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling technique by using Smart PLS software. In the quantitative part of research, the initial structure of questionnaire which was compiled with 136 items, in the initial study among five quality monitoring and evaluation experts at Farhangian University. The information obtained from the examination the indicators of each of dimensions and indicators of the quality culture using the criteria of the absolute magnitude of the factor loadings, T-statistics and R2, it should be said that all the items have a suitable factor loading (above 0.7) on the related variable. And these factor loadings were significant at 0.05 and 0.01 levels. In other words, the value of t associated with each factor load is greater than its critical value (1.96) at the 0.05 level and (2.58) at the 0.01 level. Then, in the quantitative section, 389 faculty members and non-faculty members were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling and answered the questionnaires. Findings from first and second confirmatory factor analysis showed that culture quality of factors; "Structural / managerial elements"(0.388), "Cultural/ psychological elements" (0.248), "Leadership" (0.500), "Communication" (0.584), "Trust"(0.457), "Commitment"(0.150) and responsibility"(0.528),"Participation"(0.176), "Empowerment"(0.312), "Infrastructure reform"(0.161), "Results of quality culture"(0.458) has been formed and its native model has a suitable structural validity for establishment in Farhangian University. As a result, it can be said that the structural model under study is of good quality and the observed values are well reconstructed and the model has a good predictive ability.

This research tried to probe the effects of incorporating learners’ preferred learning styles in instructions on their narrative writing development and their mental patterns and imagination. 74 homogeneous secondary EFL learners were divided into three groups based on their sensory styles of visual, auditory and tactile. The learners in the three groups were provided with instructions anchored to their learning styles. In the meantime, they were required to produce narrative writings on a number of topics in accordance with their course book. Prior to narrating, they had to think loudly and record their voices to reveal the approach and pattern they utilize for performing the required activities. Their voices were transcribed and later analyzed by the researchers for further investigations. The obtained results displayed a significant improvement in their writings as well as an ongoing progress of their thinking patterns. Furthermore, the data revealed the dominant mental approaches of top-down, considering the whole plot of the topic in advance, and bottom-up, considering the details prior to the entire story, used by the students. The study also displayed the positive impact of instruction on the improvement of learners’ narrative writing revealing their self-imaging of the plot with which they could narrate the given topics in accordance with their own life experiences and understanding.