An initial call by the editors of International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education prompted a study about the inclusion of geography in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) tests. This study found that the geography education community were overwhelmingly in favour of such a move, believing that the…

In this study, the effect of using on-screen calculators on eighth grade students' performance on two TIMSS 2019 Problem Solving and Inquiry Tasks items considered as examples of technology-enhanced items administered on computers was examined. For this purpose, three logistic regression models were run where the dependent variables were giving a…

The low-stakes character of international large-scale educational assessments implies that a participating student might at times provide unrelated answers as if s/he was not even reading the items and choosing a response option randomly throughout. Depending on the severity of this invalid response behavior, interpretations of the assessment…

Utilizing a nationally representative sample of middle school students, this article focuses on whether students who report experiencing more inquiry-based instruction in science and mathematics classrooms have more positive attitudes toward these subjects. Results of multilevel, multivariate regression analyses revealed that, net of the inclusion…

In the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015, the educational systems from the Dutch speaking part of Belgium (Flanders), Germany, and Norway included scales capturing three dimensions of instructional quality (INQUA): classroom management, supportive climate, and cognitive activation. With the inclusion of these extra scales, a…

The role and function of the mathematics textbook has been widely discussed since its inclusion in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science study (TIMSS) in the late nineties. It is a common feature in many classrooms worldwide and has been identified as an important vehicle for the promotion of curricula. However, there has also been…

In this study, we analyse the predictive power of home and school environment-related factors for determining pupils' aggression. The multiple regression analyses are performed for fourth- and eighth-grade pupils based on the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007 (N = 8394) and TIMSS 2011 (N = 9415) databases for Slovenia. At the…

Background: Large-scale cross-national studies designed to measure student achievement use different social, cultural, economic and other background variables to explain observed differences in that achievement. Prior to their inclusion into a prediction model, these variables are commonly scaled into latent background indices. To allow…

The rise of the PISA standards has taken the educational world by storm, with intense media attention and debate every time they are published. Over the past two decades, they have been gaining an increasing role in shaping educational systems and policies across the world, gaining a "canonical status" among member countries, and…

Many students require special education and programming to succeed in the classroom. This study analyzed international and national assessment teacher survey data regarding inclusive education to better characterize student classroom needs and teacher preparedness to support them. Most teachers indicated that they relied on teacher-based…

From the Americas to Asia, neoliberal policy restructuring continues to present major challenges to educational equity. In Hong Kong, teacher educators grapple with training students in pedagogy they believe in, versus the daily status quo of high-stakes exam prep, privatized "shadow education," and a system seemingly pushed to the brink…

Since 1999 South African learners have participated in various international studies but sadly the learners have continued to perform dismally, which brings to question the quality of their education. Meanwhile, Singaporean students have been among the top achievers in all these competitions. Many comparative studies have been done between…

This study uses a quantitative content analysis of learning competences -- as described and prescribed in 21st century frameworks -- and those competences evaluated by international assessments to explore the nexus between recommendation and reality. In drawing insights from the theoretical underpinnings of human capital theory we argue, with…

Purpose: Few studies have examined the role of inclusivity in international assessments of student achievement, such as the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). The current study examined how the inclusivity of students with disabilities at the classroom level across countries may be associated with achievement scores,…

White Paper 5's aim is to provide South Africa's children with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and development. Children need to be nurtured and developed holistically for them to participate efficiently in their democratic society. However, South African students continue to perform poorly in Trends in International Mathematics and…