School mechanisms behind achievement differences: A systematic review of multilevel modelling studies in primary schools

ERER, Sercan; HADJAR, Andreas; BACKES, Susanne

doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102572

Article (Scientific journals)

School mechanisms behind achievement differences: A systematic review of multilevel modelling studies in primary schools

ERER, Sercan; HADJAR, Andreas; BACKES, Susanne

2025 • In International Journal of Educational Research, 131, p. 102572

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/10993/65190

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10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102572

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Keywords :

Achievement differences; Educational inequality; Multilevel analysis; Primary school; School mechanisms; Systematic review; Education

Abstract :

[en] The discourse on school effects on educational inequality has been extensively explored within the field of sociology of education. This systematic review of multilevel modelling studies conducted in primary schools aims to identify main school-level factors explaining achievement differences. A search of the Web of Science and ERIC databases yielded 36 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Findings reveal multifaceted school mechanisms behind achievement differences: school student composition, socio-physical conditions, school management, school climate, teacher composition, and curriculum and instruction. These mechanisms operate collectively rather than in isolation, contributing to educational inequality. Understanding their interplay is crucial for researchers. By examining the state of research, this study provides insights into how these school factors contribute to the complex nature of educational inequality.

Disciplines :

Sociology & social sciences

Author, co-author :

ERER, Sercan ; Bielefeld University (DE), Faculty of Educational Science, Bielefeld, Germany

HADJAR, Andreas ; University of Fribourg (CH), Soziologie, Sozialpolitik Sozialarbeit, Switzerland

BACKES, Susanne ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > LUCET

External co-authors :

yes

Language :

English

Title :

School mechanisms behind achievement differences: A systematic review of multilevel modelling studies in primary schools

Publication date :

2025

Journal title :

International Journal of Educational Research

ISSN :

0883-0355

eISSN :

1873-538X

Publisher :

Elsevier Ltd

Volume :

131

Pages :

102572

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0883035525000461?httpAccept=text/xml

Funding text :

This work was supported by the Observatoire National de la Qualit\u00E9 Scolaire (ONQS) in Luxembourg within the ESICS project.

Available on ORBilu :

since 11 June 2025

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