Factors Promoting and Hindering Data-Based Decision Making in Schools

• In Event: Studies Investigating Demographic and Other Factors Impacting Assessment Development, Decision Making, Policy, and Practice

Abstract

Data-based decision making can lead to improved student achievement. However, data are often not being used effectively in schools. Therefore, we need to investigate under which circumstances data are used effectively. We studied which factors influence the use of data for three different purposes: accountability, school development purposes and instruction. The results of our multilevel analyses show that different factors influence the use of data use for accountability, school development, and instruction, demonstrating the need to distinguish between these different forms of data use. Also, of all the variables studied (e.g. school organizational characteristics, data characteristics, user characteristics and collaboration) school organizational characteristics is the only factor influencing all three types of data use.

Authors

• Kim Schildkamp, Universiteit Twente

• Cindy Louise Poortman, University of Twente

• Johanna Ebbeler, University of Twente

• Hans Luyten, Universiteit Twente