Evaluating Attitudes Toward Science in Three Countries: Analysis of Data From PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2006

• In Event: Assessments in International Settings

Abstract

Attitudes toward science have been linked to science achievement and career selection for some time. Using data from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) student questionnaire, we compared the attitudes towards science of students from three countries -Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States- and used differential item functioning (DIF) to determine if these attitudes vary across sex subgroups. Results revealed that attitude towards science varied as a function of country and sex.

Authors

• Xueming Li, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Jennifer Randall, University of Massachusetts