IEA : its role and plans for international comparative research in education

The International Association for the Evaluation ofEducational Achievement (IEA), an independent cooperative of researchcenters from about 45 countries, performs the type of research thatprovides data which can be used by policymakers as a basis fordecision making about educational improvements. This paper describes:(1) IEA's mission and history; (2) the design and .e.ructure of atypical IEA achievement study, using the Second InternationalMathematics Study as an illustration (including discussions of theconceptual framework on which the study is built, the process bywhich populations and samples are selected, and the development ofachievement tests); (3) some exemplary results of IEA studies whichcompare total test scores internationally, illustrate therelationship between achievement and other variables, and analyze anational educational system; and (4) IEA's organization, relationshipto other national and international organizations, and future plans.Four recent IEA studies are cited and references are provided forforthcoming publications. (24 references) (GL).