Lessons from Abroad: Statistical Adjustment in Cyprus
Comparability of Subjects:
Lessons from Abroad
Iasonas Lamprianou
Department of Social and Political Sciences
University of Cyprus
In just 15 minutes….
1.
"
Statistical adjustment” in Cyprus high stakes exams
2.
Other evidence around the world
3.
Lessons for English policy
Statistical adjustment for Comparability
purposes in Cyprus
1.
How did it all start?
◦
More than
35
years of history (around 1980)
◦
More sciences students in the Pedagogical Academy
◦
ETS report
statistical adjustment
Statistical adjustment for Comparability
purposes in Cyprus
1.
How did it all start?
2.
An ecosystem of problems: Social, Political and Financial
dimensions
(see Lamprianou, 2009, 2012)
Heated discussions in the Parliament & Horror stories in
the Press
Teacher Unions lobbied to maintain their “clients”
%
of students examined (Latin and Biology)
% of students (per school) taking
advanced mathematics
50%-60%
38%-61%
60%-70%
~47%
Comparability of subjects in Cyprus
1.
How did all start? 25 years of history
2.
An ecosystem of problems
3.
A 5-year Legal Battle
◦
The law to be declared unconstitutional (2002
2007)
◦
The Supreme Court rejected the claim
Comparability of subjects in Cyprus
1.
How did all start? 25 years of history
2.
Social and Political dimensions of the problem
3.
The 5-year Battle at the Supreme Court
4.
Public trust and the social contract
◦
Students do not understand scaling but consider it necessary
(Michaelides, 2014)
◦
Web sites with misleading information: multiple levels of
interpretation
◦
35 years later, many people try to find a way to abolish it
In just 15 minutes….
1.
“Statistical adjustment” in Cyprus high stakes exams
2.
Other evidence around the world
◦
People try to work the system
(Australian Univ. Admissions
Centre)
◦
Violations of constitution
(Fiji Islands)
◦
Heated politics and resignations
(New Zealand)
◦
Improvements to existing methods are investigated
(e.g.
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre, Western Australia)
In just 15 minutes….
1.
“Statistical adjustment” in Cyprus high stakes exams
2.
Other evidence around the world
3.
Lessons for English policy
◦
Important side-effects
◦
Is it really necessary, i.e. what is the practical impact?
◦
A vicious circle of defending and improving
◦
The legal dimension needs to be investigated
In just 15 minutes….
1.
“Statistical adjustment” in Cyprus high stakes exams
2.
Other evidence around the world
3.
Lessons for English policy
If you think it should happen,
educate all the stakeholders
first
and stop looking for the
perfect
solution.
It should be simple to explain and practical to implement.
… some references
1.
Supreme Court, Cyprus, (March 2007), Kitromilis vs The Republic of Cyprus,
No. 3913
2.
Lamprianou, I. (2009). Comparability of Examination Standards Between
Subjects: an International Perspective.
Oxford Review of Education
, 35 (2),
205-226.
3.
Lamprianou, I. (2012). Effects of Forced Policy-Making in High Stakes
Examinations: the Case of the Republic of Cyprus.
Assessment in Education:
Principles, Policy & Practice,
19 (1), 27-44.
4.
Michaelides, M. P. (2014) Validity considerations ensuing from examinees’
perceptions about high-stakes national examinations in Cyprus.
Assessment
in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice
, 21:4, 427-441.
This content discusses the statistical adjustment for comparability purposes in Cyprus, highlighting the challenges faced and the historical background of this practice. It delves into the social, political, and financial dimensions of the issue and the legal battles that ensued. Public trust, social contracts, and the need for abolishing outdated practices are also explored.
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Presentation Transcript
Comparability of Subjects: Lessons from Abroad Iasonas Lamprianou Department of Social and Political Sciences University of Cyprus
In just 15 minutes. 1. "Statistical adjustment in Cyprus high stakes exams 2. Other evidence around the world 3. Lessons for English policy
Statistical adjustment for Comparability purposes in Cyprus 1. How did it all start? More than 35 years of history (around 1980) More sciences students in the Pedagogical Academy ETS report statistical adjustment
Statistical adjustment for Comparability purposes in Cyprus 1. How did it all start? 2. An ecosystem of problems: Social, Political and Financial dimensions (see Lamprianou, 2009, 2012) Heated discussions in the Parliament & Horror stories in the Press Teacher Unions lobbied to maintain their clients
% of students examined (Latin and Biology) 29 26 26 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 19 17 16 15 13 10 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Y1987 Y2002 Y2003 Y2004 Y2005 Y2006 Y2007 Y2008 Y2009 Y2010 Y2011 Y2012 Y2013 Y2014 Y2015 Biology Latin
% of students (per school) taking advanced mathematics 60%-70% ~47% 50%-60% 38%-61%
Comparability of subjects in Cyprus 1. How did all start? 25 years of history 2. An ecosystem of problems 3. A 5-year Legal Battle The law to be declared unconstitutional (2002 2007) The Supreme Court rejected the claim
Comparability of subjects in Cyprus 1. How did all start? 25 years of history 2. Social and Political dimensions of the problem 3. The 5-year Battle at the Supreme Court 4. Public trust and the social contract Students do not understand scaling but consider it necessary (Michaelides, 2014) Web sites with misleading information: multiple levels of interpretation 35 years later, many people try to find a way to abolish it
In just 15 minutes. 1. Statistical adjustment in Cyprus high stakes exams 2. Other evidence around the world People try to work the system (Australian Univ. Admissions Centre) Violations of constitution (Fiji Islands) Heated politics and resignations (New Zealand) Improvements to existing methods are investigated (e.g. Tertiary Institutions Service Centre, Western Australia)
In just 15 minutes. 1. Statistical adjustment in Cyprus high stakes exams 2. Other evidence around the world 3. Lessons for English policy Important side-effects Is it really necessary, i.e. what is the practical impact? A vicious circle of defending and improving The legal dimension needs to be investigated
In just 15 minutes. 1. Statistical adjustment in Cyprus high stakes exams 2. Other evidence around the world 3. Lessons for English policy If you think it should happen, educate all the stakeholders first and stop looking for the perfect solution. It should be simple to explain and practical to implement.
some references 1. Supreme Court, Cyprus, (March 2007), Kitromilis vs The Republic of Cyprus, No. 3913 2. Lamprianou, I. (2009). Comparability of Examination Standards Between Subjects: an International Perspective. Oxford Review of Education, 35 (2), 205-226. 3. Lamprianou, I. (2012). Effects of Forced Policy-Making in High Stakes Examinations: the Case of the Republic of Cyprus. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 19 (1), 27-44. 4. Michaelides, M. P. (2014) Validity considerations ensuing from examinees perceptions about high-stakes national examinations in Cyprus. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 21:4, 427-441.
