TOEFL^® Young Students Series Research Program: Research Grants — 2025 Call for Proposals

The TOEFL YSS Research Grants are intended to support research related to the assessment of young language learners (under 16 years of age). Priority will be given to research relevant to the TOEFL YSS assessments (the TOEFL Primary^® and TOEFL Junior^® tests) as well as foundational research that promotes high-quality young language learner assessments.

Studies involving the collection of new empirical data can typically be funded up to US$50,000. This amount includes institutional overhead. ETS prefers to select bids which respect its nonprofit status. We therefore request that the overhead rate not exceed 15%.

1. Construct/Content Relevance
   • Investigating young EFL learners’ use of the target language in non-testing contexts (possibly including technology-augmented language use).
   • Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test performance and young learners' language use in non-testing contexts.
   • Investigating the use of strategies test takers deploy when engaging with different TOEFL YSS test items/tasks.
   • Investigating the perspectives of young learners and other stakeholders (e.g., views, opinions, understanding, attitudes) about different TOEFL YSS tests or related materials, especially of the new TOEFL Primary and TOEFL Junior writing tests
   • Investigating test-taker performance and test-taker experience across different TOEFL YSS assessment modalities, including paper-delivered, digital (e.g., computer versus tablet), and/or remote-proctored forms.
   • Exploring the relationship of the TOEFL Junior and/or TOEFL Primary tests to national and regional standards, frameworks or curricula.
   • Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior tests and other assessments that measure young learners' English proficiency.
   • Investigating effects of accent on young learners’ EFL listening comprehension
2. Test Use and Impact
   • Investigating stakeholders' language assessment literacy in relation to young learners language assessment.
   • Investigating teachers' and parents' practices, experiences and needs in relation to (remote/online) assessment with young language learners.
   • Investigating the use and impact of TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test scores and score reports in different contexts
   • Investigating young learners' perceptions and preferences related to their own score reports on the TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior test.
3. Young Learners' Language Development
   • Investigating assessment-related accessibility and inclusivity needs and practices for all young language learners.
     
   • Investigating the range and depth of English vocabulary and grammar knowledge at different age and ability levels in different contexts.
   • Investigating the relationship between test taker characteristics and their performance on the TOEFL Primary test.
   • Investigating parents’ and teachers’ strategies for supporting young learners’ language development toward taking the TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior tests.
4. Innovations in Assessment
   • Exploring the incorporation of AI and machine learning into assessments for young language learners (e.g., automated content generation, human-AI interaction, automated scoring and feedback generation).
   • Exploring multimodal tasks (e.g., integrative, scenario-based) with young language learners, and the rating of young learners’ multimodal task performances.
   • Exploring young learner language assessment practices and experiences in under-researched contexts.
   • Exploring innovative, child-friendly assessment methods and materials for very young language learners.

Consideration will also be given to research on other topics or innovations related to the assessment of young language learners.

The TOEFL Junior and TOEFL Primary research test forms will be available to principal investigators funded by the TOEFL COE YSS research program.

For the TOEFL Junior test, two types of research test forms are available:

1. Two TOEFL Junior Standard research test forms delivered via the internet
2. Two TOEFL Junior Standard paper-delivered research test forms

For the TOEFL Primary test, two types of research test forms are available:

1. One Step 1 research test form (Reading and Listening) delivered via the internet
2. One Step 2 research test form (Reading and Listening) delivered via the internet

For data output, ETS will provide grantees with a scoring file. For each test section, either raw scores or scaled scores can be provided to grantees. Scoring fees should be included in the project budget, and a scoring-fee estimate should be obtained by contacting the grant coordinator at TOEFLYS@ets.org.

The Public Use Datasets are available to principal investigators funded by the TOEFL COE YSS research program. The datasets come from two test forms of each test, and they include scores accompanied by demographic information about test takers (e.g., gender, native language, native country, etc.) and copies of relevant test materials.

• The TOEFL Junior Public Use Datasets include two TOEFL Junior Standard test forms along with their corresponding item-level scores and CEFR levels on all sections of the test. Data from Form 1 is available for a sample of 1,009 examinees, and data from Form 2 is available for a sample of 1,165 examinees. Examinee populations among the two forms do not overlap.
• The TOEFL Primary Public Use Datasets include one TOEFL Primary Listening and Reading Step 1 test form and one TOEFL Primary Listening and Reading Step 2 test form. Each dataset contains item-level scores and CEFR levels for 1,400 examinees, and the examinee populations among the two forms do not overlap.

Requests for research instruments and data for other ETS Young Students Series assessment products (e.g., the TOEFL Junior Speaking test, the TOEFL Primary Speaking test) will be considered on a case-by-case basis and granted when feasible. Please be aware that legal concerns related to the protection of test-taker identity may limit what data can be shared with external researchers. ETS welcomes grant applications from researchers who plan to recruit participants and collect data locally in countries around the globe.

Applications are invited from faculty or staff from around the world affiliated with nonprofit organizations and institutions (e.g., universities) with expertise in English language learning and assessment research. Proposals from current members of the TOEFL COE and for-profit organizations are not eligible.

Each grantee will be required to submit interim reports and at least 1 manuscript of publishable quality, in addition to appropriately acknowledging the support of the TOEFL program when disseminating the results of the funded work.

Note: Due to United States and European Union governmental sanctions, ETS may not be able to make payments to individuals or organizations in certain countries. The specific countries are determined by the United States and European Union governmental agencies and are subject to change. If your application is from one of these countries, you may be notified that your application cannot be considered for a TOEFL grant or award at this time.

Interested researchers must submit an intent form by April 15, 2024 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Applicants should use the Intent Form Template (Word) and submit it electronically to TOEFLYS@ets.org, including "Intent to Apply — COE YSS Faculty Research Grant (Last Name)" in the subject line. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals

Proposals must include a Letter of Institutional Commitment (PDF) committing the applicant's institution to the proposal. The letter must be signed by a representative of the institution's contracting office with commitment authority and must be submitted with the proposal. Proposals will not be reviewed for consideration until such a letter has been received. The contracting officer may obtain a sample ETS grant agreement by submitting a request to TOEFLYS@ets.org.

Note: Some institutions are unable to comply with ETS's contractual language regarding intellectual property and data ownership. We recommend that the contract language be reviewed by the institution's contracting officer before signing the letter of institutional commitment.

For applicants who are invited to submit full proposals, proposal materials must be submitted via email to TOEFLYS@ets.org by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on July 15, 2024.

Proposal submissions must include the following documents:

• two copies of the study proposal (one blind copy, one non-blind copy; see detailed requirements below)
• Principal Investigator's CV
• A completed Letter of Institutional Commitment (PDF)

The non-blind copy of your proposal must include all of the following key components, which are outlined in the below and are provided in the Grant Proposal Template (Word):

• A cover page, which must include:
  • the title of the project
  • the name, affiliation, and contact information of the principal investigator
  • the names and affiliations of co-investigators, if any
  • the name and contact information of institutional contract representative
  • the date of submission
  • identification of the research topic(s) addressed by the proposal
• An abstract page, which must include:
  • the title of the project
  • a statement of the problem including a brief description of the project proposed and a brief discussion of the implications or utility of the anticipated outcomes (250 words maximum)
  • identification of the research topic(s) addressed by the proposal
• The body of the proposal should be approximately between 1200 and 1500 words and must include each of the following sections:
  • Implications (a brief discussion of the implications or utility of anticipated or possible outcomes and relevance to practice or theory)
  • Limitations (a brief discussion of the limitations of the proposed study)
  • Rationale (statement of the problem or the issue and relevance to one or more of the research topics above)
  • Literature review (focused summary of related research)
  • Research questions (specific question(s) or research objectives to be addressed by the project)
  • Methodology (explanation of the proposed research methodology, including descriptions of the following):
    • study context and participants
    • variables investigated and instruments used
    • data collection procedures
    • data processing (data extraction and coding)
    • analyses to be conducted
• References
• Budget and budget explanation (See the budget section of the proposal template for specifications.)
• Schedule (list of the major activities of the project and the period in which each will be conducted; please assume April 1, 2025, as the start date for the project).
• Proposed data management plan (one-paragraph description of the type of data to be collected, the type of permissions requested for collecting and storing the data (IRB/ethical approval) and processes for storing deidentified data).
• Proposed dissemination plan (one-paragraph specification, in as much detail as possible, of where you plan to publish the manuscript(s) resulting from the funded research [e.g., as journal article, an ETS Research Report, or other venue]).

The blind copy of your proposal should be the same as the non-blind copy, except it must not include:

• the cover page
• the author(s)' identifying information (including names and affiliations) anywhere in the abstract page, body, references, budget or schedule

Please use the proposal template, which contains the following formatting:

• Microsoft^® Word 2016 or later (.docx)
• Times New Roman font size 12
• 8.5" x 11" (U.S. "Letter") page size
• 1-inch (1.0") margins on all sides
• Double (2.0) spaced
• For page numbering, paragraph indentation, references, graphs and tables, please follow APA style (American Psychological Association^®, 7th Edition)

Each proposal will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• the proposal is relevant to the research topics identified by the researcher
• the rationale for conducting the research is sufficient
• the background or literature review is adequate and appropriate
• the research questions are clearly stated
• the data collection procedures are clearly explained
• the methods of data analysis are sufficiently detailed and appropriate
• the authors discuss the anticipated results and implications for the field of language learning and assessment
• the authors specify the limitations of the proposed study
• the principal investigator has the appropriate qualifications and background to conduct the proposed study

The review will take into account each of the criteria above. To view our review form, see TOEFL COE Proposal Review Form (PDF).

Applicants invited to revise and resubmit proposals will receive constructive comments. An invitation to submit a revised proposal does not guarantee that applicants will receive a grant.

All grant winners will be required to submit at least one progress report and at least one manuscript of publishable quality during their funded study. The exact due dates for these deliverables depend upon the individual project schedule. Please indicate the date by which you intend to submit your progress report(s) and manuscript(s) in your project schedule.

Grant funds are generally disbursed in several payments, aligned to study milestones and submission of deliverables. The timing and amount of grant disbursements is flexible, depending on the project's needs. Please estimate in your budget and project schedule the specific amounts you will need for specific purposes at specific dates. For each payment that is disbursed, ETS must receive an invoice that itemizes the relevant project milestones and deliverables for which grant funds are requested.

Authors are expected to submit at least 1 manuscript of publishable quality as the final deliverable(s) of the grant. Typically, the research can be published either as an ETS Research Report or as an article in a scholarly journal. Please specify which publication venue you plan to pursue, and be aware that the manuscript will have to pass ETS technical review before being submitted for publication, whether as an ETS Research Report or an article in a scholarly journal.

Grant recipients are required to appropriately acknowledge the support of the TOEFL program when disseminating the results of the funded work. The following standard disclaimer should be included in any publications including conference presentations:

• April 15, 2024 — Deadline for submission of intent forms
• July 15, 2024 — Deadline for submission of full proposals
• October 1, 2024 — Responses to proposals emailed
• April 1, 2025 — Tentative start date for funded projects

1. I am a foreign national working in the United States. Can I apply for the grant?

Yes, but to make sure you will be able to perform the work associated with the project, you must first discuss potential involvement with your university or institution.

2. I am working outside of the United States. Can I apply for the grant?

Yes, but to make sure you will be able to perform the work associated with the project, you must first discuss potential involvement with your university or institution.

3. When can work on the project begin?

Please consider April 1, 2025, as the tentative start date for the project. The actual start date will vary depending on the duration of the contract process involving your university or organization and ETS. Contract negotiation and study planning may take several months depending on the regulations of your university or institution.

4. How long can the project last?

The expected duration for each project is 12 months. However, in special cases, projects may continue beyond 12 months. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, and projects cannot exceed 24 months. If you intend for your study to last more than 12 months, please include an explanation in your proposal's schedule section.

5. If the project continues beyond the initially agreed-upon end date, will additional funding be available to researchers?

No. No additional funding will be made available to grantees should their project extend beyond the original project timeline.

6. My project involves payments to participants. Should I include these in my budget?

Yes. In your proposal budget, please include details about the payments you plan to make to potential participants.

7. I need a data set for my study. Is there a dataset I can use?

The Public Use Datasets are available to principal investigators funded by the TOEFL COE YSS research program. The datasets come from two test forms of each test, and they include scores accompanied by demographic information about test takers (e.g., gender, native language, native country, etc.) and copies of relevant test materials.

• The TOEFL Junior Public Use Datasets include two TOEFL Junior Standard test forms along with their corresponding item-level scores and CEFR levels on all sections of the test. Data from Form 1 is available for a sample of 1,009 examinees, and data from Form 2 is available for a sample of 1,165 examinees. Examinee populations among the two forms do not overlap.
• The TOEFL Primary Public Use Datasets include one TOEFL Primary Listening and Reading Step 1 test form and one TOEFL Primary Listening and Reading Step 2 test form. Each dataset contains item-level scores and CEFR levels for 1,400 examinees, and the examinee populations among the two forms do not overlap.

8. I am interested in administering the TOEFL Junior or TOEFL Primary tests for my research. How are the TOEFL YSS assessments administered?

If you plan to administer a research test form to your participants, ETS can share with you a research test form of the TOEFL Junior Standard test or TOEFL Primary Step 1 or Step 2 (Listening and Reading only), which you can administer to your research participants free of charge. Researchers may also administer publicly available sample items.

If you intend to administer the secure, live test to your participants for research purposes, please be aware that the TOEFL Junior tests and the TOEFL Primary tests are administered locally to students in schools or other institutional settings. When approved by ETS, researchers are responsible for administering the assessment for the purposes of their study. For more information about the assessments, please visit TOEFL Primary tests and TOEFL Junior tests.

Note: ETS cannot provide live, secure assessments or constructed-response scoring services free of charge. If you plan to use the secure, live test in your research, or to use publicly available sample tasks to collect spoken or written responses to be scored at ETS, please contact TOEFLYS@ets.org to obtain more detailed information on fees you would need to budget in your proposal, and for any further questions regarding test administration for research purposes.

9. If I want to administer one or more of the assessments, how are the tests scored?

• If you administer a research test form of the TOEFL Junior Standard test or the TOEFL Primary test, ETS will provide you with a scoring file. For each test section, either raw scores or scaled scores can be provided to grantees. Scoring fees should be included in the project budget, and a scoring-fee estimate should be obtained by contacting the Grant Coordinator at TOEFLYS@ets.org.
• If you administer a secure, live assessment, then test scoring is included in the purchase of a test administration.
• If you plan to administer publicly available sample speaking and writing tasks, and you would like responses to be scored by ETS raters, you will need to budget for scoring. Please contact ETS at TOEFLYS@ets.org regarding a scoring estimate for your budget.

Note: Score reports cannot be provided to test takers who take a research test form.

10. Who will own the data and draft manuscript resulting from the project?

ETS will own all data associated with the funded research. The Principal Investigator or the Principal Investigator's institution will own and retain copyright to any paper that is presented at a conference or accepted by a journal for publication. ETS will own and retain the copyright of any manuscript that is either published as an ETS Research Report or NOT accepted for publication. ETS encourages researchers to use the data and results for scientific publications; however, all conference papers and manuscripts will need to be subject to prior review and possible redaction by ETS.

A standard contract template is available to your grant officer upon request. If your grant officer would like to review the contract template before signing the  Letter of Institutional Commitment (PDF), they should email a request to TOEFLYS@ets.org.

11. Will I be allowed to present the research at conferences?

Yes, we encourage our grantees to present their work at professional conferences. Grantees are required to submit an abstract and presentation slides to ETS for review at least 2 weeks prior to the date on which they are to be submitted or presented. In addition, grantees are required to include the standard disclaimer statement in their presentations (see Dissemination Plan above.)

12. Can I request funds to travel to conferences to present the research?

Yes. However, total travel expenses per calendar year should not exceed USD $1,500 for domestic travel or USD $2,500 for international travel.

13. How should I itemize the expenses that are listed in my budget?

For guidance on budgeting, please see the sample budget given in the Grant Proposal Template (Word).

14. Can I request funds for computer software or hardware in the project budget?

No. We do not provide funds for software or hardware purchases, as most universities or institutions already provide all necessary software and equipment.