名古屋学院大学大学院

I have designed and validated listening test items, as well as analytic rating scales for use in university placement/proficiency tests. More recently, my PhD research focused on examining how raters' personality traits can impact test-takers' scores when they take a speaking test. My findings suggest that raters who are agreeable are more likely to assign higher scores to test takers. This may have implications for the fairness and reliability of speaking assessments if not adequately addressed. My research frequently employs Rasch analysis, a probabilistic model used in psychometrics to measure latent (unobservable) constructs. Currently, my work is focused on leveraging Rasch analysis to address a significant and ongoing challenge within the social sciences: Social Desirability Bias in data collected through self-report surveys.

The world is rapidly changing around us. Many countries are recognizing that traditional learning methods no longer fully prepare our children for the challenges that lie ahead. Japan is facing significant economic shifts, and societal changes brought on by technological advances which demand that educators be prepared to adapt and try new approaches to teaching/researching. Through my courses students will learn how second languages are acquired, exploring this field through a transdisciplinary framework. Students can use this knowledge to inform their own teaching practices, allowing them to design innovative curricula. Students will also acquire specialized knowledge in designing and conducting Mixed Methods Research, learning how to integrate both qualitative and quantitative data to address complex research questions and critically evaluate published research papers. In addition to research design, students are given the opportunity to hone their academic communication skills through online presentations, peer discussions, data analysis workshops and written assignments.

At NGU students will cultivate three essential qualities: Humility, Integrity, and Objectivity. Humility allows us to acknowledge that, even as experts, there will always be questions we do not have the answers to. Be willing to admit when you don't know something. Integrity ensures that we uphold the highest standards of research in an ethical way. Report findings with transparency. No study is perfect, and reporting limitations is not an admission of failure. Objectivity allows us to approach all data and evidence without bias, we are trying to understand the world around us as it is, rather than as we think it ought to be. I believe these qualities are foundational to good science.