Overview
	Research is undertaken by the Centre in the following areas: Evaluations of Initiatives and New Programmes The Centre conducts evaluations of initiatives and new programmes in schools to improve the learning and life-chances of students in socially-disadvantaged situations. Completed projects include the evaluations of the Rutland Street Project, Breaking the Cycle, Early Start, and the Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme. Current projects include ongoing monitoring of Early Start and a review of Giving Children an Even Break. Evaluations of Services and Existing Provision in Schools The Centre conducts surveys of services, conditions and practice, in schools. These include topics as diverse as teachers' perceptions of girls and boys in primary schools, remedial education (learning support) provision in primary schools,and dropout in third-level institutions. Critical Analysis of Issues in Education The Centre conducts research on a number of critical issues in education, including factors associated with early school leaving. The design of a number of Department of Education schemes for addressing educational disadvantage have been influenced by studies of the extent and geographical distribution of disadvantage (e.g., Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). These studies also provided a basis for assessing levels of disadvantage in individual schools and were used to select schools for participation in the schemes. Analysis of Public Examination Results The Centre has on several occasions carried out analyses of the results of public examinations (Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate). A report on the comparability of grades awarded in Leaving Certificate subjects was prepared for the Task Force on the Physical Sciences. Studies have been carried out on (i) the impact of examination components on total score in the Leaving Certificate Examination; (ii) relationships between performance on Certificate examinations and performance on international assessments of educational achievement; (iii) the comparability of grades in the Leaving Certificate Examination. Performance on the Junior Certificate Examination has been related to performance on the Leaving Certificate Examination. National Assessments of Educational Achievement As part of the Centre's work in monitoring the outcomes of education, national surveys of achievement at primary level have been carried out in association with the Department of Education and Science. The surveys have been conducted in the areas of English (reading), Irish (reading and oral language), and Mathematics. It is planned to extend the range of assessments to include other areas of the curriculum in future years. (National Assessments) International Assessments of Educational Achievement The Centre has been involved in international assessments of educational achievement since the 1980s: the First and Second International Assessments of Educational Progress in Mathematics and Science, the IEA Study of Reading Literacy, the International Adult Literacy Study, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment. Current work is focused on the third cycle of PISA, in which 15-year olds in 30 OECD member countries and at least 20 other countries will be assessed in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. (PISA) Development of Assessment Instruments Work is carried out on an ongoing basis on the development of tests and profiling systems which teachers can use to assess pupils in primary and post-primary schools. These include the Drumcondra Primary Reading Test, the Drumcondra Primary Mathematics Test, and the Drumcondra Reasoning Test. Current work includes the revision of both the Drumcondra Primary Mathematics Test and Drumcondra Primary Reading Test. Tests may be obtained by schools from the Centre's Test Department.
St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, Ireland     -     Telephone: +353 1 8373789     -     Fax: +353 1 8378997     -     Email: info@erc.ie

Overview

Overview

Research is undertaken by the Centre in the following areas:

Evaluations of Initiatives and New Programmes

The Centre conducts evaluations of initiatives and new programmes in schools to improve the learning and life-chances of students in socially-disadvantaged situations. Completed projects include the evaluations of the Rutland Street Project, Breaking the Cycle, Early Start, and the Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme. Current projects include ongoing monitoring of Early Start and a review of Giving Children an Even Break.

Evaluations of Services and Existing Provision in Schools

The Centre conducts surveys of services, conditions and practice, in schools. These include topics as diverse as teachers' perceptions of girls and boys in primary schools, remedial education (learning support) provision in primary schools,and dropout in third-level institutions.

Critical Analysis of Issues in Education

The Centre conducts research on a number of critical issues in education, including factors associated with early school leaving. The design of a number of Department of Education schemes for addressing educational disadvantage have been influenced by studies of the extent and geographical distribution of disadvantage (e.g., Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). These studies also provided a basis for assessing levels of disadvantage in individual schools and were used to select schools for participation in the schemes.

Analysis of Public Examination Results

The Centre has on several occasions carried out analyses of the results of public examinations (Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate). A report on the comparability of grades awarded in Leaving Certificate subjects was prepared for the Task Force on the Physical Sciences. Studies have been carried out on (i) the impact of examination components on total score in the Leaving Certificate Examination; (ii) relationships between performance on Certificate examinations and performance on international assessments of educational achievement; (iii) the comparability of grades in the Leaving Certificate Examination. Performance on the Junior Certificate Examination has been related to performance on the Leaving Certificate Examination.

National Assessments of Educational Achievement

As part of the Centre's work in monitoring the outcomes of education, national surveys of achievement at primary level have been carried out in association with the Department of Education and Science. The surveys have been conducted in the areas of English (reading), Irish (reading and oral language), and Mathematics. It is planned to extend the range of assessments to include other areas of the curriculum in future years. (National Assessments)

International Assessments of Educational Achievement

The Centre has been involved in international assessments of educational achievement since the 1980s: the First and Second International Assessments of Educational Progress in Mathematics and Science, the IEA Study of Reading Literacy, the International Adult Literacy Study, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment. Current work is focused on the third cycle of PISA, in which 15-year olds in 30 OECD member countries and at least 20 other countries will be assessed in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. (PISA)

Development of Assessment Instruments

Work is carried out on an ongoing basis on the development of tests and profiling systems which teachers can use to assess pupils in primary and post-primary schools. These include the Drumcondra Primary Reading Test, the Drumcondra Primary Mathematics Test, and the Drumcondra Reasoning Test. Current work includes the revision of both the Drumcondra Primary Mathematics Test and Drumcondra Primary Reading Test. Tests may be obtained by schools from the Centre's Test Department.