Unterschiede zwischen Schulformen und das Pilotprojekt PROCI

in SCRIPT; EMACS (Eds.) PISA 2012. Nationaler Bericht Luxemburg (2013)

Luxemburger Schülerinnen und Schüler im internationalen Vergleich

in SCRIPT; EMACS (Eds.) PISA 2012. Nationaler Bericht Luxemburg (2013)

Gender Differences in the Mean Level, Variability, and Profile Shape of Student Achievement: Results From 41 Countries

in Intelligence (2013), 41(5), 378-395

A domain-specific hierarchical conceptualization of mathematics achievement can be represented by the standard psychometric model in which a single latent dimension accounts for observed individual ... [more ▼]

A domain-specific hierarchical conceptualization of mathematics achievement can be represented by the standard psychometric model in which a single latent dimension accounts for observed individual differences in scores on the respective subdomains (e.g., quantity). Alternatively, a fully hierarchical conceptualization of achievement can be represented by a nested-factor model in which individual differences in subdomain-specific scores are explained by both general student achievement and specific mathematics achievement. The authors applied both models to study the gender similarity hypothesis, the greater male variability hypothesis, and the masking hypothesis, which predicts that gender differences in general student achievement mask gender differences in both the means and the variability of specific mathematics achievement. Representative data were obtained from 275,369 15-year-old students in 41 countries. The results supported these hypotheses in most countries, demonstrating that a fully hierarchical conceptualization of achievement in terms of the nested-factor model significantly contributes to a better understanding of gender differences in the mean level, variability, and shape of students’ achievement profiles. [less ▲]

Students’ Complex Problem-Solving Abilities: Their Structure and Relations to Reasoning Ability and Educational Success

in Intelligence (2013), 41(5), 289-305

Complex Problem Solving (CPS) is considered to be a promising candidate for capturing higher order thinking skills that are emphasized in new educational curricula but are not adequately measured by ... [more ▼]

Complex Problem Solving (CPS) is considered to be a promising candidate for capturing higher order thinking skills that are emphasized in new educational curricula but are not adequately measured by traditional intelligence tests. However, little is known about its psychometric structure and its exact relation to intelligence and educational success—especially in student populations. This study is among the first to use a large and representative sample of secondary school students (N = 563) to examine different measurement models of CPS—that conceptualize the construct as either faceted or hierarchical—and their implications for the construct’s validity. Results showed that no matter which way it was conceptualized, CPS was substantially related to reasoning and to different indicators of educational success. Controlling for reasoning within a joint hierarchical measurement model, however, revealed that the impressive external validity was largely attributable to the variance that CPS shares with reasoning, suggesting that CPS has only negligible incremental validity over and above traditional intelligence scales. On the basis of these results, the value of assessing CPS within the educational context is discussed. [less ▲]

The Genetics Lab_Theoretical background & psychometric evaluation

Report (2012)

The Genetics Lab: a computer-based test to assess students' complex problem solving abilities

Software (2012)

Intelligence as assessed by modern computer-based problem solving scenarios

Scientific Conference (2012)

Computer-based problem solving scenarios—so-called microworlds—have often been suggested as promising alternative assessment instruments of intelligence. Potential benefits compared to traditional paper ... [more ▼]

Computer-based problem solving scenarios—so-called microworlds—have often been suggested as promising alternative assessment instruments of intelligence. Potential benefits compared to traditional paper-pencil tests involve tracking of students’ mental representations of the problems as well as their problem solving strategies by means of behavioral data. Though, it is still topic of ongoing debate whether the skills assessed by such microworlds are distinct from or identical to the construct of intelligence as measured by conventional reasoning tests. To address this issue, we thoroughly investigated construct and incremental validity of a recently developed microworld, the Genetics Lab (Sonnleitner et. al, 2011). We obtained data from a multilingual and representative Luxembourgish student sample (N = 563) who completed the Genetics Lab and 3 reasoning scales of an established intelligence test battery. Results of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis suggest that the construct assessed by the Genetics Lab is largely identical to the construct of intelligence as measured by traditional reasoning scales. Incremental validity was found with respect to the performance in a national assessment of students’ competencies and performance in the PISA study of 2009. Thus, the notion of microworlds to be a valuable measure of intelligence is supported. [less ▲]

Befunde zum Migrationshintergrund und zum sozio-ökonomischen Familienhintergrund

in Martin, Romain; Brunner, Martin (Eds.) Épreuves Standardisées. Nationaler Bericht 2011-2012 (2012)

Does Childhood General Cognitive Ability at Age 12 Predict Subjective Well-Being at Age 52?

in Journal of Research in Personality (2012), 46

Drawing on a broad, multidimensional conceptualization of subjective well-being, this study examined the power of childhood general cognitive ability to predict life satisfaction, satisfaction with eight ... [more ▼]

Drawing on a broad, multidimensional conceptualization of subjective well-being, this study examined the power of childhood general cognitive ability to predict life satisfaction, satisfaction with eight individual life domains, and the frequency of experiencing positive and negative affect in middle adulthood. Data were obtained from a representative Luxembourgish sample (N = 738; 53% female) in a longitudinal study conducted in 1968 and 2008. Childhood general cognitive ability was unrelated to life satisfaction, negatively related to negative affect and satisfaction with free time, and positively related to positive affect and satisfaction with some of the life domains associated with socioeconomic success (i.e. finances, self, housing, work, or health). This predictive power persisted even when childhood socioeconomic status was controlled. [less ▲]

Reading comprehension strategies of biliterate students in German and French

Scientific Conference (2011, July)