Trends in International PISA Scores over Time: Which Countries Are Actually Improving?

Kristie J. Rowley, Shelby M. McNeill, Mikaela J. Dufur, Chrisse Edmunds and Jonathan A. Jarvis
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Kristie J. Rowley: Independent Researcher, 429 North 750 West, Springville, UT 84663, USA
Shelby M. McNeill: Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations, Vanderbilt University, PMB #414 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
Mikaela J. Dufur: Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2008 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Chrisse Edmunds: Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, 238 Townshend Hall The Ohio State University 1885 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Jonathan A. Jarvis: Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2008 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA

Social Sciences, 2019, vol. 8, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Many countries attempt to increase their Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings and scores over time. However, despite providing a more accurate assessment of the achievement-based improvements across countries, few studies have systematically examined growth in PISA scores over multiple assessments. Using data from the 2006, the 2009, and the 2012 PISA, we analyzed which countries experienced significant increases in their country-level average PISA scores between 2006 and 2012. To facilitate improved policy decisions, we also examined what country-level conditions were associated with such increases. Contrary to expectations, we found that few countries significantly increased their PISA scores over time. Countries that did experience meaningful improvements in PISA scores were more likely to have had lower PISA scores in 2006 and experienced country-level foundational advancements more recently, such as advancing to a more democratic form of government and/or a higher income classification.

Keywords: PISA; mathematics achievement; education policy; PISA trends over time; comparative education; institutional theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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