Education Commons^™

Income Supplementation Interventions In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Income supplementation interventions provide cash transfers directly to the parents/families of young children, with the objective of improving learning and other outcomes. Interventions of this type directly address poverty as the origin of many of the challenges to children’s learning in economically developing contexts. Such programs seek to affect positively child wellbeing and readiness to learn as well as the home learning environments. These effects can be achieved by using the additional income, for example, to support centre-based childcare or school attendance, to buy more nutritious food or to enable parents to spend more time with their children. The eight …

Effective Child-Focused Education And Nurturing Care Interventions, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Child-focused education and nurturing care interventions provide learning support directly to the child. In line with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED Level 0), the support is typically provided by either centre- or home-based Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services outside the child’s family and includes an educative and caring component with an active child development element. The 35 child-focused interventions in this review (of a total of 109 studies; see further details under background) occurred in 29 countries in five regions – the widest geographical spread of all intervention types under consideration. The most frequently represented countries …

Measuring The Impact Of Citizen-Led Assessments For Improving The Quality Of Education, Mollie Tobin, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Effective communication and advocacy activities are essential components in initiating change in education practices and policies. ACER, through the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Centre provided support to OMAES (Oeuvre Malienne d’Aide à l’Enfance du Sahel), a non-governmental organisation in Mali, for the development of an internal monitoring and evaluation system for the Beekunko assessment in Mali. Bεεkunko is a household-based assessment of children’s learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy for children in Mali whether currently attending school or not, and who are six to 14 years of age. OMAES’ primary aim through Bεεkunko is to motivate stakeholders at various levels …

Snapshot Of Student Wellbeing, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

A new study has found that most Australian children report high levels of wellbeing, but wellbeing varies by background, especially for a quarter of children who identify as marginalised. Petra Lietz examines the findings.

Understanding Pisa And Its Impact On Policy Initiative: A Review Of The Evidence, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin, Dita Nugroho

Dr Petra Lietz

Using Large-Scale Assessments Of Students' Learning To Inform Education Policy: Insights From The Asia-Pacific Region, Mollie Tobin, Petra Lietz, Dita Nugroho, Ramya Vivekanandan, Tserennadmid Nyamkhuu

Dr Petra Lietz

Not much is known about the ways in which assessment data have actually been used in education policy to date. Understanding the role of assessments in informing system-level decision-making is a first step towards helping stakeholders improve the design and usefulness of assessments. Moreover, this understanding can help to further discussions about how assessment data can best be used to inform policy and practice and to evaluate the effectiveness of policy reforms. This paper presents results from a systematic review of 68 studies that examined the link between participation in large-scale assessment programs of students’ learning and education policy in …

Comparative Research In Education: Iea Studies, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

During the second half of the twentieth century, the globalization movement transformed the nature of comparative research in education. The United Nations Organization and its agency UNESCO, promoting cooperation among nations through education, science, and culture, led this development through ‘Education for All’ and the integration of organizational, international, comparative, and global approaches to education. The conduct of educational research worldwide has been greatly influenced by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement through the monitoring of educational outcomes and the introduction of systemic and modeling approaches to research in education leading to evidence-based making of educational policy.

Location, Location: Student Achievement And Regionality, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

The further schools are from larger cities, the more challenging it is for their students to excel, but some buck the trend. Petra Lietz explains.

Evaluation Of Data Literacy And Usage To Improve Outcomes, Martina Bovell, D D'Aloia, Elizabeth O'Grady, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin, Gerald White

Dr Petra Lietz

No abstract provided.

Plenary 4 - Indigenous And Rural Students: Double Whammy Or Golden Opportunity? Evidence From South Australia And Around The World, Petra Lietz, I Gusti Ngurah Darmawan, Lester-Irabinna Rigney, R. John Halsey, Carol Aldous

Dr Petra Lietz

No abstract provided.

Towards A ‘Good Life’ For Children In Their Middle Years, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Petra Lietz describes a new research collaboration to design and conduct Australia’s first internationally comparable survey of student wellbeing, with a particular focus on disadvantaged students.

Informing Policy In Developing Countries, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin

Dr Petra Lietz

Petra Lietz and Mollie Tobin discuss the impact of large-scale assessment programs on education policy in developing countries.

The Impact Of National And International Assessment Programmes On Education Policy, Particularly Policies Regarding Resource Allocation And Teaching And Learning Practices In Developing Countries, Maura Best, Pat Knight, Petra Lietz, Craig Lockwood, Dita Nugroho, Mollie Tobin

Dr Petra Lietz

There is a documented global rise in the number of countries undertaking national learning assessments, as well as international and regional learning assessments. Much of this growth, especially in national learning assessments, has occurred in economically developing countries. Little is known, however, on how these assessments affect education policy and practice in developing countries. This review examined the impact of national and international assessment programmes on education policy, particularly policies regarding resource allocation and teaching and learning practices in developing countries. This particular focus on policies regarding resources and teaching and learning practices stemmed from an observation that, particularly in …

On The Use Of Rotated Context Questionnaires In Conjunction With Multilevel Item Response Models, Raymond J. Adams, Petra Lietz, Alla Berezner

Dr Petra Lietz

Large-Scale Group Score Assessments: Past, Present, And Future, B Naemi, E Gonzalez, J Bertling, A Betancourt, J Burrus, P Kyllonen, J Minsky, Petra Lietz, E Klieme, S Vieluf, J Lee, R Roberts

Dr Petra Lietz

he influence of large-scale group score assessments on research, policy, and practice in education has increased dramatically over the past few decades. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the value and scope of this program of research. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the history of large-scale assessment. Next, it focuses on current research and development surrounding the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, a government-mandated assessment in the United States) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA, a large-scale survey and assessment commission by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, …

Large-Scale Group Score Assessments: Past, Present, And Future, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

The influence of large-scale group score assessments on research, policy, and practice in education has increased dramatically over the past few decades. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the value and scope of this program of research. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the history of large-scale assessment. Next, it focuses on current research and development surrounding the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, a government-mandated assessment in the United States) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA, a large-scale survey and assessment commission by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, …

The Relationship Between School Resources And Grade 8 Mathematics Achievement: A Comparison Of Palestinian Authority, Israeli Hebrew And Israeli Arab Schools In Timss 2007, Yasin Afana, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin

Dr Petra Lietz

The relationship between school resources such as learning materials, computers, and student-teacher ratio and student performance has been shown to be important. In this article, school resources and their relationship with student achievement are compared for Israeli and Palestinian Authority (PA) schools using data from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement’s (IEA) 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in the context of eff orts aimed at reducing the differences in resources in schools in Israel. Results of bivariate analyses show some differences regarding the availability of school resources between the three groups of schools …

On The Use Of Rotated Context Questionnaires In Conjunction With Multilevel Item Response Models, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

While rotated test booklets have been employed in large-scale assessments to increase the content coverage of the assessments, rotation has not yet been applied to the context questionnaires administered to respondents. This paper describes the development of a methodology that uses rotated context questionnaires in conjunction with multilevel item response models and plausible values. In order to examine the impact of this methodology on the continuity of the results, PISA 2006 data for nine heterogeneous countries were rescaled after having been restructured to simulate the outcomes of the use of different rotated context questionnaire designs. Results revealed negligible differences when …

Quality Of Education In Madrasah : Main Study, Mohammad Ali, Julie Kos, Petra Lietz, Dita Nugroho, Furqon, Asmawi Zainul, Emi Emilia

Dr Petra Lietz

This report covers the main phase of the ‘Quality of Education in Madrasah’ (QEM) study. The study aimed to provide high quality research into various dimensions of quality of education in Madrasah in Indonesia. The focus of the study was on Year 9 students in Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs; Islamic Junior Secondary School). Quality of education was measured through: (1) level of student achievement, comparing three regions in the country and to some extent using international benchmarks, as well as the identification of variables that are linked to achievement; (2) students’ views of their schooling experience; and (3) the extent to …

Trial Of The Engagement Matrix: Component 1: The Effectiveness Of Labels. Report, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin, Sarah Buckley

Dr Petra Lietz

The Engagement Matrix (EM) was designed by the Department of Education and Children’s Services in South Australia to measure engagement levels of students enrolled in the Innovative Community Action Networks (ICAN)/ Flexible Learning Options (FLO) program once a term. Innovative ICANs work with young people (year 6-age 19), families, schools, community groups, businesses and different levels of government to encourage young people to finish their secondary education. Flexible Learning Options (FLO) was first introduced in 2006 as an enrolment option in ICAN schools which is funded by DECS. FLO is an approach that is more flexible than the traditional full-time …

Final Evaluation Report: Supporting Improved Literacy Achievement (Sila) Project, Robert Hattam, Lyn Kerkham, John Walsh, Jenny Barnett, Dianne Bills, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin

Dr Petra Lietz

The Supporting Improved Literacy Achievement (SILA) project has attempted to make a difference to literacy achievement in some of the most ‘educationally disadvantaged’ schools in South Australia, and hence to take on seriously what has been an intractable policy and practice problem for many decades. In brief, the SILA project has adopted a coaching model as the means of providing schools with support for developing responses to diagnostic reviews. This strategy is a significant departure from common practice in DECS where schools are expected to undertake regular self-review processes using the DIAf tools with support for post-review development usually left …

The Contribution Of Iea Research Studies To Australian Education, John Ainley, John Keeves, Jan Lokan, Petra Lietz, Geoff Masters, Sue Thomson

Dr Petra Lietz

This chapter is concerned with the contribution of the research studies conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to Australian education. During a period of 50 years education across the world has undergone a remarkable transformation. Many of the changes that have occurred have been initiated by the United Nations Organization and its agen¬cies, particularly UNESCO. From its origins within the UNESCO Institute in Hamburg, IEA and its programs have evolved to develop the worldwide conduct of research in education both through the undertaking and reporting of studies as well as the informal training of …

The Impact Of Values And Learning Approaches On Student Achievement: Gender And Academic Discipline Influences, Liudmila Tarabashkina, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

This paper presents results from a longitudinal study of sojourner students which was conducted at an international university in Germany from 2004 to 2007. The study followed a cohort of undergraduate students from the first week of their studies to their graduation. Participants completed three questionnaires: the Portrait Value Questionnaire (Schwartz et al., 2001), the Study Process Questionnaire (Biggs, 1987b), and the Student Background Questionnaire (Matthews, Lietz, & Darmawan, 2007). Structural Equation Modelling was used to examine how personal values influenced students' learning approaches and how these, in turn, were related to students' achievement. It was also examined how robust …

The Relationship Of Iea To Some Developments In Educational Research Methodology And Measurement During The Years From 1962 To 1992, John Keeves, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

The marked expansion of education at all levels from early childhood education to primary and secondary schooling, as well as to universi¬ties and institutes of technology and to programs of lifelong learning and recurrent education in the workplace, led to the development of educational research as a major field of scholarly inquiry during the second half of the twentieth century. Research into education involves many disciplines in addition to psychology and operates with large numbers of individuals, institutions and systems at several levels across the approximately 200 states of the world. Moreover, it neces¬sarily involves change over time since it …

School Quality And Student Achievement In 21 European Countries, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

The Heyneman-Loxley effect (1982, 1983) refers to an effect moderating the degree to which school quality affects student achievement. This moderating effect was found to relate to a country’s economic productivity. More specifically,the effect is one in which school quality has a greater impact on student achievement in countries that are less developed economically than in countries that are more highly developed. This article presents a reexamination of this effect using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses of data for 21 European countries that participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2003. Two models are analyzed. …

The Selection Of Cases For Culturally Comparative Psychological Research., Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Sampling is at the core of data collection, and a plethora of techniques and procedures have been described in the literature. Opinion polls and social science surveying are at the forefront of research and practical applications in this context. Despite a multitude of handbook articles and much rarer textbook chapters the lege artis sampling of participants of psychological research remains a neglected topic. Amongst psychologists, common sense convictions about the importance of the sampling topic range from implicitly declaring the question irrelevant for the discipline to accepting as sound science only studies that employ a rigid probability sampling approach.

The Effects Of College Students’ Personal Values On Changes In Learning Approaches, Petra Lietz, Bobbie Matthews

Dr Petra Lietz

Many studies of changes in learning approaches have used data from different age groups at one point in time only (Gow and Kember, High Educ 19:307–322, 1990; Watkins and Hattie, Br J Educ Psychol 51:384–393, 1981) or have analyzed the effects of just two or three factors using single level analytical techniques (Cano, Br J Educ Psychol 75:203–221, 2005; Duckwall et al., Res High Educ 32(1):1–13, 1991; Jay and Love, NCSSSMST J 7(2):4–8, 2002; Loo, Educ Psychol, 17(1/2), 1997; Watkins and Hattie, Hum Learn 4:127–141, 1985; Zeegers, Br J Educ Psychol 71:115–132, 2001). This study employs multilevel modeling as a …

Quality Of Education In Madrasah: Phase 1 – Findings From Pilot Study One., Julie Kos, Dita Nugroho, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

Submitted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to Contractor Strategic Advisory Services (CSAS).

Research Into Questionnaire Design – A Summary Of The Literature, Petra Lietz

Dr Petra Lietz

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Values And Learning Approaches On Achievement: Do Gender And Academic Discipline Make A Difference., Petra Lietz, Liudmila Tarabashkina

Dr Petra Lietz

This paper presents results from a longitudinal study of sojourner students which was conducted at an international university in Germany from 2004 to 2007. The study followed one cohort of undergraduate students from the first week of their studies to graduation from their Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Participants completed three questionnaires at the beginning of each year: the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ) (Schwartz et al. 2001), the Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) (Biggs 1987), and the Student Background Questionnaire (Matthews, Lietz & Darmawan 2007). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to examine how personal values influenced students’ …