Same but different? Measurement invariance of the PIAAC motivation-to-learn scale across key socio-demographic groups

Abstract Background Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) revealed that countries systematically differ in their respondents’ literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments skills; skill levels also vary by gender, age, level of education or migration background. Similarly, systematic differences have been documented with respect to adults’ participation in education, which can be considered as a means to develop and maintain skills. From a psychological perspective, motivation to learn is considered a key factor associated with both skill development and participation in (further) education. In order to account for motivation when analyzing PIAAC data, four items from the PIAAC background questionnaire were recently compiled into a motivation-to-learn scale. This scale has been found to be invariant (i.e., showing full weak and partial strong measurement invariance) across 21 countries. Methods This paper presents further analyses using multiple-group graded response models to scrutinize the validity of the motivation-to-learn scale for group comparisons. Results Results indicate at least partial strong measurement invariance across gender, age groups, level of education, and migration background in most countries under study (all CFI > .95, all RMSEA < .08). Thus, the scale is suitable for comparing both means and associations across these groups. Conclusions Results are discussed in light of country characteristics, challenges of measurement invariance testing, and potential future research using PIAAC data

Acculturation as a ressource for integration

Akkulturation ist ein breit gefasstes Konzept, das Veränderungen in Folge eines interkulturellen Kontaktes beschreibt. Im Beitrag werden Modelle sowie der Bezugsahmen der Akkulturation dargestellt. Dabei können verschiedene Facetten des individuellen Akkulturationsprozesses betrachtet werden. Hierzu zählen die Einstellung zur Akkulturation, kognitive Kompetenzen, die soziale Interaktion, die Identität, das Verhaltensrepertoire und die strukturelle Platzierung. Basierend auf dem bidimensionalen Modell war die Akkulturationsforschung im letzten Jahrzehnt stark auf Typologien zentriert, die die Beziehung zwischen der Herkunftskultur und der Aufnahmegeschalt auf Individualebene beschreibt. Dabei wurde vorwiegend von einer Defizitperspektive ausgegangen. In Anbetracht einer globalisierten Welt sollte Akkulturation jedoch aus einer Ressourcenperspektive verstanden werden, da das Wissen um und über verschiedene Kulturen das Verhaltensrepertoire von Individuen erweitert

Degrees of competency: the relationship between educational qualifications and adult skills across countries

Abstract Background Educational qualifications and literacy skills are highly related. This is not surprising as it is one aim of educational systems to equip individuals with competencies necessary to take part in society. Because of this relationship educational qualifications are often used as a proxy for “human capital”. However, from a theoretical perspective, there are many reasons why this relationship is not perfect, and to some degree this is due to third variables. Thus, we want to explore the net relationship between educational attainment (harmonized according to the International Standard Classification of Education, ISCED) and literacy skills, and how much skills vary within education levels across countries. Methods We use data from 21 countries from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies 2012. This paper compares the literacy skills of adults who achieved different levels of educational attainment across countries. Given the high degree of educational differentiation in most countries, we do this using a more differentiated educational attainment variable than what is commonly used.  In our analyses we firstly adjust for factors that are likely to affect access to education and the acquisition of educational qualifications and literacy skills, such as parental education and language and migration background. In a second step, we also take into account factors affecting skill development after initial formal education, such as occupation and skill use at home. Results We firstly find a high degree of heterogeneity of skills across countries for equivalent education categories. Secondly, we find skill similarities for equivalent education categories classified at different broad education levels, sometimes even breaking the hierarchical order of ‘higher education entails higher competencies’. Conclusion We conclude that ISCED levels cannot be taken as a cross-nationally comparable proxy for human capital in terms of literacy skills, and that education has to be harmonized in a substantively more meaningful way in future adult literacy surveys