Karen Dunn headshot

Dr Karen Dunn, Senior Researcher: Measurement & Evaluation

Karen is a senior researcher and head of the English Language Research Data Science and Insights team at the British Council. She oversees a team of experts specialising in the quantitative analysis of language and assessment data, working to shape and implement the organisation's thought leadership agenda in statistical methodology, educational measurement, and data science. Karen collaborates with colleagues across the UK and internationally, delivering high-quality analysis for specialised interest groups focused on language education and assessment. 

 

Additionally, Karen plays a key role in evaluating the effectiveness of new and existing English language tests within the British Council's test portfolio, plus those developed in partnership with external organisations and ministries of education across the globe.

 

She serves as co-editor of the British Council Monographs on Modern Language Testing, and regularly publishes and presents on the latest methodological advances and statistical approaches to analysing language test data. 

Areas of expertise

  • Item Response Theory and Explanatory Item Response Modelling
  • Factor Analysis and Latent Variable Mixture Modelling
  • Generalised Linear Mixed Models

Publications

 

Dunn, K. J. (2024). Random-item Rasch models and explanatory extensions: A worked example using L2 vocabulary test item responses. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 3 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2024.100143 

 

Dunn, K. J., & Iwaniec, J. (2022). Exploring the relationship between second language learning motivation and proficiency: A latent profiling approach. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 44(4), 967-997. doi:10.1017/S0272263121000759

Schmitt, N., Dunn, K. J., O’Sullivan, B., Antony, L., & Kremmel, B. (2021). Introducing knowledge-based vocabulary lists. TESOL Journal. doi:10.1002/tesj.622

Iwaniec, J. and Dunn, K. (2021). Measuring motivation. In P. Winke, & T. Brunfaut (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and language testing (pp. 157-166). Routledge.

Dunn, K. J., & McCray, G. (2020). The place of the bifactor model in confirmatory factor analysis investigations into construct dimensionality in language testing. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01357

O’Sullivan, B., Dunlea, J., Spiby, R., Westbrook, C., & Dunn, K., (2020). Aptis General Technical Manual Version 2.2. British Council. 

O’Sullivan, B., Berry, V., & Dunn, K. (2019). Test preparation: An international comparison of test takers’ preferences. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 28(1), 13-36. doi:10.1080/0969594X.2019.1637820

Dunlea, J., & Dunn, K. (2013). English language learning outcomes at the primary school level in rural India: Taking a fresh look at the data from the Annual Status of Education Report. In V. Berry (Ed.), English Impact Report: Investigating English language learning outcomes at the primary school level in rural India (pp. 33-68). British Council. 

Education

  • PhD, Applied Social Statistics, Lancaster University, 2013
  • MRes, Applied Social Statistics, Lancaster University, 2009
  • MA, Language Studies, Lancaster University, 2008 
  • BA (Hons), English Literature with Philosophy, University of Leeds, 1999