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An In‐depth Analysis of Achievement Gaps Between Seventh and Eighth Grades in the TIMSS Database
Author(s) -
Wang Jianjun,
Zhu Chunying
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
school science and mathematics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 1949-8594
pISSN - 0036-6803
DOI - 10.1111/j.1949-8594.2003.tb18117.x
Subject(s) - mathematics education , achievement test , subtraction , benchmark (surveying) , student achievement , mathematics , academic achievement , statistics , standardized test , geography , arithmetic , geodesy
Middle school data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are analyzed in this article to compare achievement difference between seventh and eighth grades. The statistical computing involves a selective subtraction of item scores in more than 40 countries. The research findings indicate that not all TIMSS items have resulted in a higher mean score at the upper grade level. Item features are discussed to characterize part of the released TIMSS instrument that generates a higher average score at the lower grade. This empirical study may help enrich understanding of the TIMSS benchmark among mathematics and science educators.