Demographics and Education: The 20 Richest Countries

N

13

Demography; International Assessment; Comparative Education; Foreign Countries; Academic Achievement; Socioeconomic Status; Family Characteristics; Gender Differences; Native Language; Language Usage; Predictor Variables; Scores; Mathematics Achievement; Reading Achievement; Multiple Regression Analysis

Australia; Austria; Belgium; Canada; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong; Ireland; Japan; Netherlands; Norway; Singapore; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; United States

This paper explores the PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment] achievement of twenty countries in light of some of their demographic differences. SES [student socioeconomic status], nuclear family, gender, home language, and native status were predictive of achievement for every country. Demographics accounted for as little as 8 percent to as much as 22 percent of individual score variance depending on the country and subject. Being male was almost a universal advantage in math, but was a far greater disadvantage in reading for every country. The relative performance of some countries changed when scores were adjusted for demographic differences; however, the Asian countries and Finland remained on top. Instructional strategies related to countries performing above expectations were explored.

As Provided

33

2016

ED564130