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How Can Large International Comparative Studies Contribute to the Quality of Science Education?

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Research and the Quality of Science Education

Abstract

In this paper the two international comparative studies IEA TIMSS and OECD PISA have been discussed by comparing their similarities and differences. A number of examples have been presented to demonstrate how findings in various areas are relevant to help improve science education. Focus are on students’ conceptual understanding, gender and school differences, relations to home background factors, and on what characteristics of instruction that seem to be related to high achievement. Furthermore, the assessment frameworks for the two studies are argued to be of influential importance in its own terms, but that any influence on national aims and curricula should be carefully considered only in a national context.

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Lie, S. (2005). How Can Large International Comparative Studies Contribute to the Quality of Science Education?. In: Boersma, K., Goedhart, M., de Jong, O., Eijkelhof, H. (eds) Research and the Quality of Science Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3673-6_3

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