Nathan Carr

Contact Information

ncarr@fullerton.edu
Voice: 657-278-4410
Dept: 657-278-3534

Department Address

Office: Humanities 710-B

Nathan T. Carr, Ph.D.

Acting Chair, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Professor, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Biography

Dr. Nathan Carr is Professor of TESOL at California State University, Fullerton. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics at UCLA with a focus on language assessment. Professor Carr’s research interests are eclectic but focus on language assessment, particularly validation, computer-based testing and automated scoring, and rating scale use and development. He is the author of Designing and Analyzing Language TestsOpens in new window , published in 2011 by Oxford University Press.

During the Spring 2022 semester, Dr. Carr is serving as the faculty sponsor for a visiting scholar, Nurtang Assilbek, a Ph.D. student from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Dr. Carr is also serving on his dissertation committee as a foreign scientific advisor. Mr. Assilbek is researching critical thinking dispositions in EFL students, and is at CSUF for two months.

Degrees

2003, Ph.D in Applied Linguistics, University of California, Los Angeles

1996, M.Ed. in TESOL, Oklahoma City University

1991, B.A. in Russian Studies and Russian, University of Oklahoma

Research Areas

  • Test validation
  • Assessment literacy training
  • Automated scoring
  • Rating scale use and development
  • Computer-based testing
  • Test task characteristics

Publications

Carr, N. T. (2020). Consistency of computer-automated scoring keys across authors and authoring teams. In G. J. Ockey & B. A. Green (Eds.), Another generation of fundamental considerations in language assessment: A festschrift in honor of Lyle F. Bachman, pp. 173-199. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8952-2

Sadykova, L., Abramavičius, S., Maimakov, T., Berikova, E., Kurakbayev, K., Carr, N. T., Padaiga, Ž., Naudžiūnas, A., & Stankevičius, E. (2019). A retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes of drug-susceptible TB in Kazakhstan, 2013–2016. Medicine 98(26), pp. 1-14. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016071

Kunnan, A. J., & Carr, N. T. (2017). A comparability study between the General English Proficiency Test - Advanced and the Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language. Language Testing in Asia 7:17. DOI: 10.1186/s40468-017-0048-x

Carr, N. T., & Karbozova, G. K. (2017). An innovative strategy for effective teaching with limited resources through Padlet. In Proceedings of the International Forum of Teachers-Innovators “Modern Education in a Global Competitive Environment” (vol. 1, pp. 59-63).

Kunnan, A. J., & Carr, N. T. (2015). A comparability study between the General English Proficiency Test - Advanced and the Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL) (LTTC-GEPT Research Report RG-06). Retrieved from The Language Training and Testing Center website: https://www.lttc.ntu.edu.tw/lttc-gept-grants/RReport/RG06.pdf

Carr, N. T. (2013). Computer-automated scoring of written responses. In A. J. Kunnan (Ed.), The companion to language assessment. John Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/9781118411360.wbcla124

Carr, N. T. (2013). Improving motivation by preparing students for real world language use. In Y.-N. Leung, W.-T. Lee, & S.-Y. Hwang (Eds.), Selected Papers from the Twenty-second International Symposium on English Teaching (pp. 1-15). Taipei, Taiwan: English Teachers’ Association-ROC.

Kunnan, A. J., & Carr, N. T. (2012). Statistical analysis of test results. In C. Chapelle (Ed.), The encyclopedia of applied linguistics (Vol. 2, pp. 5396-5403). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal1115

Carr, N. T. (2011). Designing and analyzing language tests. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Carr, N. T. (2011). Computer-based language assessment: Prospects for innovative assessment. In N. Arnold & L. Ducate (Eds.), Present and future promises of CALL: From theory and research to new directions in language teaching (2nd ed., pp. 337-373). San Marcos, TX: Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium (CALICO).

Carr, N. T., Crocco, K., Eyring, J. L., & Gallego, J. C. (2011). Perceived benefits of technology enhanced language learning in beginning language classes. The IALLT Journal for Language Learning Technologies, 41(1), 1-32.

Carr, N. T., & Xi, X. (2010). Automated scoring of short answer reading items: Implications for constructs. Language Assessment Quarterly 7, 205-218.

Carr, N. T. (2010). Computer-automated scoring of English writing: Advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives. In M.-H. Tsai, S.-W. Chen, R.-C. Shih, T.-H. Hsin, I. F. Chung, C.-C. Lee,… S.-Y. Lin (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2010 International Conference on ELT Technological Industry and Book Fair: Computer-Scoring English Writing (pp. 16-28). Pingtung, Taiwan: Department of Modern Languages, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.

Carr, N. T. (2008). Decisions about automated scoring: What they mean for our constructs. In C. A. Chapelle, Y. R. Chung, & J. Xu (Eds.), Towards adaptive CALL: Natural language processing for diagnostic language assessment (pp. 82-101). Ames, IA: Iowa State University.

Carr, N. T. (2008). Using Microsoft Excel to calculate descriptive statistics and create graphs. Language Assessment Quarterly, 5(1), 43-62.

Carr, N. T., Eyring, J. L., & Gallego, J. C. (2007). What is the value of service-learning for ESL teacher preparation? CATESOL Journal, 18(1), 66-80.

Carr, N. T. (2006). The Factor Structure of Test Task Characteristics and Examinee Performance. Language Testing, 23(2), 1-21.

Carr, N. T. (2006). Computer-based testing: Prospects for innovative assessment? In L. Ducate & N. Arnold (Eds.), Calling on CALL: From theory and research to new directions in foreign language teaching (pp. 289-313). San Marcos, TX: CALICO (Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium).

Carr, N. T. (2005). Greater than lambda [Review of the book Criterion-referenced language testing]. Language Assessment Quarterly 2, 227-230.

Carr, N. T. (2004). A review of Lertap (Laboratory of Educational Research Test Analysis Package) 5.2 [Review of the program Lertap]. International Journal of Testing 4(2), 189-195.

Carr, N. T. (2004). Assessment practices [Review of the book Assessment practices]. TESL Reporter 37(2), 77-78.

Carr, N. T., & Vongpumivitch, V. (2001). An interview with Dorry M. Kenyon. Issues in Applied Linguistics 12, 111-126.

Vongpumivitch, V., & Carr, N. T. (2001). An interview with J. Charles Alderson. Issues in Applied Linguistics 12, 91-109.

Carr, N. T. (2000). A comparison of the effects of analytic and holistic rating scale types in the context of composition tests. Issues in Applied Linguistics 11, 207-241.

Carr, N. T. (1998). Tolstoy as a Taoist sage. In D. D. Milivojevic (Ed.), Leo Tolstoy and the Oriental religious heritage (pp. 61-76). New York: ColumbiaUniversity Press.

Presentations & Lectures

  • Language assessment development
  • Analysis of language test data
  • Speaking and listening methods
  • Research methods
  • Teaching English overseas
  • Curriculum development
  • Pedagogical grammar
  • General ESOL methodology
  • Teacher training