My dissertation, tentatively titled Exploring the Influence of Nonverbal Facial, Gaze, and Posture Behavior on Ratings of Second Language Proficiency, aims to uncover sources of variance in test scores due to the presence of nonverbal behavior. In layman’s terms, we know that examiners pick up on test-takers’ body language during language tests, so I am aiming to uncover how much this body language might raise or lower test scores. We know that it can happen, but we don’t know how much of a role it might play. We also don’t know if certain aspects of body language (facial expressions, body posture, eye gaze) are more or less impactful. There are many unanswered questions, and my dissertation research is tapping into some of these and opening the doors for much more research to come.
My research is funded by the British Council, Duolingo, and TIRF.
PUBLICATIONS
Burton, J. D. (in press). Reflections on the past and future of language testing and assessment: An emerging scholar’s perspective. Language Testing, 40(1).
Burton, J. D. (2022). Gazing into cognition: Eye behavior in online L2 speaking tests. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2022.2143680
Burton, J. D. (2021). The face of communication breakdown: Multimodal repair in L2 oral proficiency interviews. Papers in Language Testing and Assessment, 10(2), 30–61. http://www.altaanz.org/uploads/5/9/0/8/5908292/3._plta_10_2__burton.pdf
Burton, J. D., & Winke, P. (2021). Building positive outcomes for English language learning: A case for focusing on positive individual differences. TESOL AL Forum. http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolalis/issues/2021-02-09/3.html
Youn, H. J. & Burton, J. D. (2021). Measuring L2 writing. In P. Winke & T. Brunfaut (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and language testing (pp. 295–304). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351034784-32
Burton, J. D. (2020). Does speaking test complexity impact the direction of eye gaze? ILTA Newsletter, 3(2). https://www.iltaonline.com/page/Newsletter-December-2020
Burton, J. D. (2020). Book review: Automated speaking assessment: Using language technologies to score spontaneous speech. Language Testing, 37(4), 633–637. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532220924013
Burton, J. D. (2020). “How scripted is this going to be?” Raters’ views of authenticity in speaking-performance tests. Language Assessment Quarterly, 17(3), 244-261. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2020.1754829
Burton, J. D. (2020). Raters’ measurement of test-task authentic engagement in L2 oral-performance assessment: An exploration of scale development. System, 90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102233
Unpublished research
Burton, J. D. (2018). Raters’ perceptions and operationalization of authentic engagement in oral proficiency tests [Unpublished MA thesis]. Lancaster University.
DATASETS
Burton, J. D. (2021). Question complexity, nonunderstanding, and nonverbal behavior (OSF F2JXK, Version V1) [Data set]. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/F2JXK
Burton, J.D. (2020). Raters’ perceptions and operationalization of authentic engagement in oral proficiency tests (OSF TSDH9, Version V1). [Data set]. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TSDH9
PRESENTATIONS
Burton, J. D. (2023, March 18–21). Does confidence boost test scores? Exploring the relationship between perceived affect and second language proficiency. American Association of Applied Linguistics. Portland, United States.
Burton, J. D. (2022, September 15). Interpersonal perceptions and ratings of second language speech: An exploration of correlations between affect and language proficiency. Language Assessment Research Colloquium. Chicago, United States.
Coss, M. D., Tuzcu, A., & Burton, J. D. (2022, August 30). How does TBLT measure up? Longitudinal evidence from multiple assessment measures. In Van Gorp, K. (Chair), TBLT in a Chinese University: Course development, implementation, reflections, and results [Symposium]. The 9th International Association of Task-Based Language Teaching Conference, Innsbruck, Austria.
Burton, J. D. (2022, June 1). Visible nonunderstanding: Multimodal repair in L2 oral proficiency interviews. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment. Budapest, Hungary.
Fairbairn, J., & Burton, J. D. (2021, December 10). Topic relevance, authentic engagement and task completion in spoken performance. New Directions in English Language Assessment. Singapore.
Burton, J. D. (2021, October 9). Visible nonunderstanding: Multimodal repair in online L2 speaking tests. Midwest Association of Language Testers.
Burton, J. D. (2021, October 9). Gaze patterns in online speaking tests: The impact of question complexity. Midwest Association of Language Testers.
Burton, J. D. (2021, July 2). Off-topic and out of luck? Characteristics of topic relevance in a high-stakes speaking test. New Directions in English Language Assessment. Online.
Burton, J. D. (2021, June 17). Does speaking test complexity impact the direction of eye gaze? Language Testing Research Colloquium. Online.
Burton, J. D. (2020, October 24). Off-topic and out of luck? Characteristics of topic relevance in a high-stakes speaking test. Second Language Research Forum. Nashville, USA.
Shuang, W., & Burton, J. D. (2019, March 22). Policy in action: Promoting localised proficiency frameworks through stakeholder engagement. Paper presented at New Directions in English Language Assessment. Mexico City, Mexico.
Burton, J. D. (2019, March 6). Raters’ perceptions and operationalization of authentic engagement in oral proficiency tests. Paper presented at Language Testing Research Colloquium. Atlanta, USA.
Burton, J. D. (2018, October 22). Raters’ perceptions and operationalization of authentic engagement in oral proficiency tests. Paper presented at New Directions in English Language Assessment. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Burton, J. D., & Horne, P. (2018, October 19). British Council item writing and its role in improving participant langauge assessment literacy. Paper presented at the Asian Association of Language Assessment. Shanghai, China.
Burton, J. D. (2018, May 25). Aligning international education with globally recognized language frameworks: Language assessment in action. Invited talk at IELTS Research Symposium. British Embassy, Beijing, China.
Burton, J. D. (2018, March 19–23). Globally recognized proficiency scales: The goals and uses of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Invited plenary at The 1st National Symposium on English Language Assessment: New Directions for Indonesia. Jakarta, Surabaya, & Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Burton, J. D. (2017, October). The challenges of language learning through an EMI curriculum. Paper presented at IB China Education Forum, Shenzhen, China.
Burton, J. D. (2003, July). The history of American mathematics prior to 1875. Pi Mu Epsilon National Meeting. Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Posters
Burton, J. D., & Yoder, M. (2019). Cognitive processes in 3-, 4-, and 5-option MCQs. LLT-818 Eye-Tracking Poster Session. Michigan State University. East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
May, L., O’Hagan, S., East, M., Phakiti, A., Winke, P., & Burton, J. D. (2020, November 20). Editor session: Publishing in language assessment journals. LTRC/ALTAANZ Celebratory Event. Online panel.
Harding, L., Kunnan, A., Slomp, D., & Burton, J. D. (2020, September 16). Publishing your research with language assessment journals: A discussion between editors, graduate students, and early career researchers. International Language Testing Association. Online panel.
Clark, V., Chodidjah, I., Burton, J. D., & rotating local panelists. (2018, March). Initiatives in language assessment in Asia: Challenges and opportunities. The 1st National Symposium on English Language Assessment: New Directions for Indonesia. Jakarta, Surabaya, & Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
WORKSHOPS
Winke, P., & Burton, J. D. (2023, June TBD). Open science in language testing: Theories, tools, and practice. Language Testing Research Colloquium, New York City, USA.
Burton, J. D., & Spiby, R. (2021, July 1–3). Data Visualization for Language Assessment. New Directions in English Language Assessment. Online.
Sanchez, L., & Burton, J. D. (2019, March). How language assessment works: Assessing speaking and assessing writing. New Directions in English Language Assessment. Mexico City, Mexico.
Burton, J. D. (2018, July). Performance testing. Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College. Rizhao, China.
Burton, J. D. (2018, March). Designing tests and item writing. The 1st National Symposium on English Language Assessment: New Directions for Indonesia. Jakarta, Surabaya, & Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Burton, J. D. (2018, February). Behind the curtain: A look at test development. British Council, Beijing, China.
Burton, J. D. (2017, November). Assessing speaking. Practical Classroom Assessment: From Theory to Application. Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam.
