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Prof Ray Adams

Selected Works

International programs

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Education

The Influence Of Equating Methodology On Reported Trends In Pisa, Eveline Gebhardt, Ray Adams Dec 2006

The Influence Of Equating Methodology On Reported Trends In Pisa, Eveline Gebhardt, Ray Adams

Prof Ray Adams

In 2005 PISA published trend indicators that compared the results of PISA 2000 and PISA 2003. This paper explores the extent to which the outcomes of these trend analyses are sensitive to the choice of test equating methodologies, the choice of regression models and the choice of linking items. To establish trends, PISA equated its 2000 and 2003 tests using a methodology based on Rasch Modelling that involved estimating linear transformations that mapped 2003 Rasch-scaled scores to the previously established PISA 2000 Rasch-scaled scores. This paper compares the outcomes of this approach with an alternative, which involves the joint Rasch …


The Impact Of Differential Investment Of Student Effort On The Outcomes Of International Studies, J Butler, Ray Adams Dec 2006

The Impact Of Differential Investment Of Student Effort On The Outcomes Of International Studies, J Butler, Ray Adams

Prof Ray Adams

International comparative assessments of student achievement, such as Trends in Mathematics and Science (TIMSS) and Programme for International Student Achievement (PISA) are becoming increasingly important in the development of evidence-based education policy. The potentially far-reaching influence of such studies underscores the need for these assessments to be valid and reliable. In education, increasing recognition is being given to motivational factors which impact on student learning. This research considers a possible threat to the validity of such studies by investigating the influence the amount of effort invested by test-takers has on their outcomes. Reassuringly, it is found that the reported expenditure …


Response To 'Cautions On Oecd's Recent Educational Survey (Pisa), Ray Adams Aug 2003

Response To 'Cautions On Oecd's Recent Educational Survey (Pisa), Ray Adams

Prof Ray Adams

This paper refers to the work of S J Prais who questioned the outcomes of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's PISA survey of the reading, mathematics and science attainments of fifteen year-olds. Prais suggested that methodological flaws in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) had resulted in an apparent improvement in the attainment of British students, particularly when compared to their Swiss and German counterparts. This paper responds to Prais's criticisms, noting that when Prais's conjectures are tested with empirical data they are not supported. The author argues that many of Prais's criticisms are due to an incomplete …