Evaluating item response theory linking and model fit for data from PISA 2000–2012

ABSTRACT

Based on concerns about the item response theory (IRT) linking approach used in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) until 2012 as well as the desire to include new, more complex, interactive items with the introduction of computer-based assessments, alternative IRT linking methods were implemented in the 2015 PISA round. The new linking method represents a concurrent calibration using all available data, enabling us to find item parameters that maximize fit across all groups and allowing us to investigate measurement invariance across groups. Apart from the Rasch model that historically has been used in PISA operational analyses, we compared our method against more general IRT models that can incorporate item-by-country interactions. The results suggest that our proposed method holds promise not only to provide a strong linkage across countries and cycles but also to serve as a tool for investigating measurement invariance.     

Impact of the Good Behavior Game on special education teachers

This study tested effects of a program that offers teachers universal classroom management strategies, on teachers’ burnout symptoms and self-efficacy, and their teaching behaviors. Data were collected from 147 teachers (mean age = 38.4 years, SD = 10.8) in 15 special secondary education schools for students with emotional and behavioral problems, at the start and end of the school year. Schools were randomly assigned to the experimental condition or a care-as-usual condition. Results show that the program impacted beneficially on self-reported levels of emotional exhaustion, and self-efficacy in engaging students and in classroom management, but not on teaching behaviors. Implications of this study for the professional development of teachers in special education and research are discussed.     

Developmental trajectories of externalizing behaviors in childhood and adolescence

This article describes the average and group-based developmental trajectories of aggression, opposition, property violations, and status violations using parent reports of externalizing behaviors on a longitudinal multiple birth cohort study of 2,076 children aged 4 to 18 years. Trajectories were estimated from multilevel growth curve analyses and semiparametric mixture models. Overall, males showed higher levels of externalizing behavior than did females. Aggression, opposition, and property violations decreased on average, whereas status violations increased over time. Group-based trajectories followed the shape of the average curves at different levels and were similar for males and females. The trajectories found in this study provide a basis against which deviations from the expected developmental course can be identified and classified as deviant or nondeviant.     

A recursive techniques editor for Prolog

We describe an editor geared to recursive Prolog procedures. It is similar to the structure editors built for many programming languages, except that instead of just ensuring the correctness of the syntax of the procedures built by the editor, the editor also ensures the correct use of recursion. By correct here we mean that the recursive procedure is guaranteed to terminate and to be well-defined. Within these constraints we have tried to ensure that the range of procedures that can be built is as complete as possible.     

A design environment for downstream processes for Bioprocess-Engineering students

A bioprocess engineer should have at least a set of basic design skills. Bioprocess design is a complex cognitive skill, which should be trained in every year of an academic Bioprocess-Engineering curriculum. However, there is little existing learning material to support the initial training of design skills early in the curriculum. For this reason a web-based DownStream Process Design environment has been developed, called DSPD. This article describes the design criteria for the development of this design environment. It describes the design environment itself and it gives an impression of the use of the design environment in a course for first-year students.     

The development of professional competencies by educational assistants in school‐based teacher education

Diese Studie beschreibt den Entwicklungsprozess der professionellen Fähigkeiten von 26 Studenten, die an einem sog. ‘Dualen’ Trainingsprogramm, zum Klassenassistenten teilnahmen. Die Analyse basiert sich auf:(a) Einen Kolbs LSI‐Fragebogen über den Lernstil und das situationsspezifische Lernverhalten (α=.70), (b)Ein ‘Storyline Instrument’ als graphische Darstellung über die Entwicklung der Kompetenzen im Trainingsprogramm; (c) Beurteilung der Fähigkeiten mit Noten. ‘Aktives Experimentieren’ in der Arbeitsumgebung hat zu guten Ergebnissen geführt (r=.50 typisch). Die Auszubildenden erfahren, dass ‘Lernen durch Aktivität’ und ‘Feedback oder Hinweise’ die besten Mittel sind, die deren eigenes Lernverhalten fördern. Viele Studenten durchlaufen eine ‘vorbereitende Lernzeit’, in der sie zwar Erfahrungen im Unterrichtswesen sammeln, wobei aber deren Fähigkeiten keinerlei Fortschritte zeigen. Vorbereitendes Lernen hängt positiv mit der Neigung nach reflexiver Observation und negativ mit der Neigung zu aktiven Experimenten zusammen (r=.50 typisch) und korreliert auch negativ (r=?.55 typisch) zum letztendlichen Kompetenzniveau. Das Ergebnis dieser Studie betont die Anwendung des ‘aktiven Experimentierens’ der in‐service Studenten und weicht ab von der allgemeinen Annahme, dass Observation für die professionelle Entwicklung der dualen Lehrerbildung und den In‐Service Unterricht wichtig sei. Diese Studie ist zur Verbesserung aller Lehrerausbildungen in Europa relevant.     

If it's going to be,it's up to me: first-year psychology students’ experiences regarding academic success

Student life is marked by substantial growth in areas such as self-regulation abilities. In this article, the experiences of first-year Psychology students are explored through the lenses of the self-determination theory. Both content and thematic analyses were done with 79 students’ reflections on the aspects they regarded as facilitating/preventing success in their studies. Responses ranged from complete external control (amotivation and external regulation) to high levels of internal control (integration). While many participants articulated their perceptions of incompetence, other participants took ownership of their behavior and articulated how an interest in and enthusiasm for Psychology as a discipline moved them toward feelings of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. High value was placed on a well-structured but warm and responsive educational context.     

Early Full-Time Day Care,Mother–Child Attachment,and Quality of the Home Environment in Chile: Preliminary Findings

Research Findings: Two longitudinal studies are reported examining the effects of full-time day care in Mapuche and non-Mapuche families in Chile. First, the Magellan-Leiden Childcare Study (MLCS) used a sample of 95 mothers with children younger than 1 year old (n = 36 in day care). Second, we partially cross-validated our results in a large and representative sample of 10,723 mothers and their children from the Chilean Encuesta Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey). In both studies, the quality of care for children provided at home was measured with the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment. In the MLCS study, additional indicators of the mother–child relationship were measured. Day care was not negatively associated with the mother–child relationship and maternal sensitivity, compared to maternal care, or with the quality of the home environment. Positive changes in attachment security were found in Mapuche children who attended day care centers. Practice or Policy: We were able to confirm that type of care was not differentially associated with quality of the home environment.