Academic Profile Development: An Investigation of Differentiation Processes Based on Students' Achievement and Grade Level

• In Event: Assessing Student Learning From a Cognitive Perspective: Challenges and Innovations

Abstract

Academic achievement profiles affect students’ further development, i.e., by informing educational and professional choices. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the mechanisms behind the development of academic profiles. For research on cognitive ability profiles, specifically differentiation processes, statistical tools have been developed. In the present article, we transfer these methods for differentiation research to academic achievement data. We examine differentiation depending on students’ general level of achievement and grade level in a large Luxembourgish student sample. Students’ achievements in German, French, and Math were assessed within the Luxembourg school monitoring program. We found more balanced academic profiles with increasing achievement level. We further found more balanced profiles with increasing grade level and a positive interaction effect.

Authors

• Moritz Lion Breit, University of Trier

• Martin Brunner, University of Potsdam

• Antoine Fischbach, University of Luxembourg

• Rachel Wollschläger, University of Luxembourg

• Ulrich Keller, University of Luxembourg

• Franzis Preckel, University of Trier