Student performance, school differentiation, and world cultures: Evidence from PISA 2009. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Liang; Khan, Gulab; Tahirsylaj, Armend
• Is Part Of: International journal of educational development. Volume 42(2015)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Cultural cluster -- Student performance -- School differentiation -- PISA; Education -- Periodicals; Education -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; Éducation -- Périodiques; Education; Periodicals; 370.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.02.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-0593

Abstract

Abstract: PISA 2009 data were used to identify patterns of differences and similarities among PISA participating countries/economies. The concept of cultural clusters was used to show patterns of differences and similarities within and across country clusters in two indicators – average student performance and school differentiations (measured by proportion of variance in student test scores explained by schools). Results revealed striking similarities among countries within many cultural clusters, while significant dispersion was found in others, especially among Eastern Europe countries. Regression analyses indicated that cultural clusters explain the majority of variance in average student performance and school differentiations across countries, suggesting that culture is an important factor when comparing and contrasting different school systems.