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Using baseline assessment data to make international comparisons
Author(s) -
Tymms Peter,
Merrell Christine,
Jones Paul
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
british educational research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1469-3518
pISSN - 0141-1926
DOI - 10.1080/0141192042000234647
Subject(s) - baseline (sea) , mathematics education , psychology , international studies , international comparisons , political science , sociology , pedagogy , social science , economic growth , law , economics
International studies have concentrated on the achievements of children during or at the end of their schooling. But such data are difficult to interpret without knowing the progress that they have made since they started school. This article argues that the time has come to study the starting points of children as they begin their education. Such a study is doubtless difficult to design and this study reports an analysis of data from a baseline assessment carried out with thousands of children starting school in very different circumstances, with different languages and cultures and in different countries. It is a pilot international study. Although difficulties are exposed the analyses indicate that such a study is now possible and, it is argued, should be carried out.