International Assessments of Student Achievement and Public Confidence in Education: Evidence From a Cross-National Study

• In Event: 53.078 - Social Consequences of Educational Inequality: International Perspectives

Abstract

Following the immense growth of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), scholars have explored the representation of these assessments in public discourse. Scholars, however, overlooked the impact of PISA on the general public. Using data from the International Social Survey Program, this study examines the effect of PISA results on public confidence in educational systems across 25 countries. National performance in mathematics (both raw score and ranking) has significant effect on public confidence, even after controlling for economic development. Respondents in countries that perform well in mathematics have higher level of confidence in education. There is no significant effect for performance in science and reading. Implications for research and policy will be discussed in the full paper.

Authors

• Oren Pizmony Levy, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Pete Bjorklund, University of California - San Diego