مطالب

Language learners' test performance is affected by individual attributes that are not part of test takers’ language ability (Bachman, 1990). The identification of such factors and the study of their association/impact with/on EFL learners' test performance has been a real test validity concern for language testing researchers (Bachman, 1990, 2004). This study was designed to explore the relation of a number of cognitive and psychological attributes and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' test performance. To this end, two hundred male (100) and female (100) Iranian intermediate EFL learners selected through convenience sampling procedure took Goal-orientation Scale, Test Preparation and Test-taking Strategy Scale, and Examination Stress Scale and a sample Test of English as a Foreign Language Junior Standard (TOEFL Junior). Regression analyses of the questionnaires and the TOEFL test results demonstrated that mastery goal orientation, performance goal orientation, test-taking strategy and test anxiety all correlated with EFL learners' test performance; however, test taking strategy was the strong cognitive predictor and performance goal orientation was the strongest psychological predictor of the EFL learners' test performance. The results seem to indicate that in addition to previously identified factors like test anxiety and test taking strategies some factors like performance and mastery goal orientations which were once deemed as construct irrelevant factors in EFL learners' test performance need to be added to the battery of personal attributes that are influential factors in this regard.

Researchers examined anomalies in the market to understand the market dimensions. Prior studies considered the effects of biases on momentum strategy. Stock liquidity as one of the risk factors for assets was also considered by researchers. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of stock liquidity in the separately and jointly effect of anchoring bias and the disposition effect on momentum profit. The population of this study consists of all companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Based on systematic election sampling this study covers 136 companies over the period of 2007-2020. In this study, the effect of disposition effect is calculated using the approach of Greenblatt and Han (2005) and Frazzini (2006) and the anchorage bias is calculated according to George and Hwang (2004). This study calculates momentum profits according to Jegadeesh and Titman (1993). To test the hypotheses, multivariate regressions and the five-factor model of Fama and French (2015) have been used. The results of this study show that the disposition effect in stocks with low liquidity increases momentum profit. In addition, anchoring bias in stocks with low liquidity leads to an increase the momentum profit. Findings of this study document that the interaction effect of anchoring bias and disposition effect, while reinforcing each other, is also associated with increasing in momentum profit. Finally, when anchoring bias and disposition effect reinforce each other, and stocks have low liquidity, they do not increase momentum profits.

The oil market is affected by the supply of oil by oil-producing countries. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established in the 1960s to balance oil prices in favor of oil-producing countries. OPEC has gone through a period of convergence and divergence since its inception under political-economic events and crises. In turn, this convergence and divergence have had a significant impact on oil production, supply, and prices in the oil market. OPEC members form a diverse range of population, size, reserves, output, gross domestic product, ideology, and type of relationship with world powers. This diversity, along with internal tensions, leads to different approaches on energy markets and production quotas, which has affected the interests of all producing countries. Thus, this study aims to assess the convergence relationship between OPEC members on the strength of this organization on the market. To reach this aim, we have used a qualitative method of descriptive and analytical type using library resources and documents. Findings show that any lack of convergence and understanding between OPEC members has led to increased supply in the oil market and fluctuating prices. These price fluctuations seriously damage the economies of exporting countries.