IEA Study Updates | February 2024
ICCS
IEA, together with ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) and LUMSA University (Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta) released the ICCS (International Civic and Citizenship Education Study) 2022 International Report. In addition, the online launch of the ICCS 2022 European Report and Results and IDB (International Database) took place on Thursday, 22 February 2024. We would like to congratulate participating countries and thank all who participated in this cycle of ICCS.
We were also excited to release the information package for ICCS 2027; the fourth cycle of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study. The first ICCS 2027 NRC (National Research Coordinators) meeting will take place in between 28 February and 01 March 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Enrollment for ICCS 2027 is open and we encourage you to contact us with any questions.
ICILS
Almost all countries have finished their data collection for the ICILS (International Computer and Information Literacy Study) 2023 main survey. Data cleaning, scaling, and analysis are underway in preparation for the draft international report results, which will be discussed in detail at the next NRC meeting from 24−28 June 2024 in Chinese Taipei.
We are also pleased to announce that the ICILS 2023 Assessment Framework was released on 27 December 2023. The ICILS assessment framework defines the scope of the study cycle, outlines the design and content of the measurement instruments, sets down the rationale for those designs, and describes how measures generated by the instruments relate to the constructs of the study.
PIRLS
Preparations for the PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) 2026 cycle are well underway. Enrollment for PIRLS 2026 remains open, and we encourage countries and benchmark participants to finalize their participation as soon as possible. The second NRC meeting for PIRLS 2026 took place from 11−16 February in Copenhagen Denmark. The meeting focused on writing items for the selected texts for the PIRLS 2026 field test, as well as reviewing and discussing ePIRLS tasks, the Reading Assessment Framework, Context Questionnaire Framework, and sampling and operations plans.
In addition, the first report in the PIRLS Insights Series, Aspects of Student Well-Being and Reading Achievement in PIRLS 2021 was released. This report examines possible relationships between reading achievement and factors that may impact students’ well-being.
TIMSS
The TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) 2023 main data collection has been completed in all countries. Plans for the TIMSS 2023 International Report will be discussed at the 7th National Research Coordinators Meeting from 17−22 March 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Preparations for the TIMSS 2023 Longitudinal Study are also underway. Northern Hemisphere countries are finalizing the instrument preparation process. While the assessment materials and many questionnaire items will remain the same between TIMSS 2023 and TIMSS 2023 Longitudinal, new items have been added to the questionnaires to provide additional contextual information of interest to help understand learning gains and provide insights into changes over time in the participating education systems.
IELS
The second cycle of IELS (International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study) is in full swing, with six participating jurisdictions beginning their field trial since the start of the year and two other jurisdictions (plus adjudicated regions) due to begin soon. IEA is currently preparing for the next June NPM (National Project Managers) and TEG (Technical Executive Group) meetings for the Main Study in 2025.
IQB-Erprobungsstudie 2024 (IQB Pilot Study)
In the context of the IQB Bildungstrend—Germany’s largest national comparison study—switching from paper-based to computer-based assessment next year, another pilot study will be administered in Quarter two 2024 and preparations began in October 2023. The current study focuses on primary schools— after a first pilot study in 2019 in secondary schools—where the test administration will be online only, mainly using school devices. Therefore, the technical equipment in schools had to be evaluated in advance.
KWiK
Since summer 2020, the KWiK study (Continuity and Change in Schools in Times of Crisis) has shed light on the effects that COVID-19, and the influx of Ukrainian refugees in 2022, have had on the German school system. The KWiK study has now come to an end with the publication of the results of the third measurement point. The final results can be viewed here and are accompanied by a press release.
LaNA
Following the minor delays in the field trial in 2023 we are delighted to say that data collection for the Main Data Collection Phase has been successfully completed in all six participating LaNA (Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) countries, a major accomplishment considering unforeseen geopolitical challenges in the region. IEA has received data from all countries and is currently finalizing data processing procedures to share data with the ISC—the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at the Lynch School of Education in Boston College—for scaling and reporting.
NEPS
Unfortunately, the second measurement period of NEPS (National Educational Panel Study) revealed that the panel could not be kept as stable as hoped. The challenging longitudinal study demands a high level of commitment from schools, which many are unable to provide due to their already high workload from everyday activities. Consequently, although we are looking forward to the upcoming recruitment of schools and students for the third measurement period, this is not without concern.
PIAAC
IEA’s Data Management Team is currently preparing the final participating-country data files for PIAAC (Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies). The study is currently in its post-processing period of the main survey and the weighted data will be the base for all analysis and reporting of international results. Data resulting from the analysis will be merged onto the weighted data files to build the IDB (International Database) for publication later in the year.
TALIS
After the third National Project Managers and Data Managers Meeting—conducted in September 2023 in Ljubljana (Slovenia)—all national study centers have been preparing the TALIS (Teaching and Learning International Survey) Main Survey instruments and Northern Hemisphere participants have started contacting sampled schools and ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) settings. In January 2024 the IQO (International Quality Observer) training was conducted for Northern Hemisphere participants. Final preparations of the online data collection system (IEA StudyExpert) were completed at the end of January and the main survey data collection for Northern Hemisphere countries was launched on 01 February 2024.
TALIS Starting Strong Germany
Following the successful implementation of the 2023 field test, the recruitment process for the TALIS Starting Strong main survey is currently underway. The target of recruiting approximately 400 daycare centers to participate in this voluntary study is challenging given the high workload in the sector. By mid-January we had met over 50% of this target by recruiting educational staff in 260 daycare centers. Participants are invited to complete an online or paper questionnaire by the end of April.
TOSCAneo
One of the many sub-studies of TOSCA that have been carried out since 2002, TOSCAneo analyzes the development of student achievement in upper secondary schools in Baden-Württemberg at three measurement points within one school year. The second measurement point is due shortly. This voluntary study requires participation from students and schools, and participation rates are high, likely because the Ministry of Education maintains direct contact with the schools.