NEPS framework for assessing reading competence and results from an adult pilot study

TY - JOUR

T1 - NEPS framework for assessing reading competence and results from an adult pilot study

AU - Gehrer, Karin

AU - Zimmermann, Stefan

AU - Artelt, Cordula

AU - Weinert, Sabine

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - This article sketches the framework for assessing reading competence across thelifespan in the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). It gives a detailed presentation of the two central dimensions in the framework: (a) text functions and text types and (b) the cognitive requirements of reading tasks. Theseare discussed against the background of relevant theoretical models and researchfi ndings. A pilot study of 447 adults is reported that analyzed the dimensionalityand diffi culty of the reading competence test for adults. Results indicated that thetest meets the NEPS research goals. The article focuses particularly on whethertext types and cognitive requirements prove to be appropriate structural elementsfor the framework, that is, whether each distinguishes suffi ciently between goodand poor readers. Results also report on the dimensionality of the reading competence test. A comparison between one unidimensional and two diff erent multidimensional models examined whether the text types and/or cognitive requirementsof the items/tasks are separate dimensions of reading competence, or whetherthe reading competence measured in NEPS can – as intended – be conceived asa unidimensional construct. Results are discussed against the background of thescope and limitations of the NEPS reading competence test and the relevant research literature on reading competence.

AB - This article sketches the framework for assessing reading competence across thelifespan in the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). It gives a detailed presentation of the two central dimensions in the framework: (a) text functions and text types and (b) the cognitive requirements of reading tasks. Theseare discussed against the background of relevant theoretical models and researchfi ndings. A pilot study of 447 adults is reported that analyzed the dimensionalityand diffi culty of the reading competence test for adults. Results indicated that thetest meets the NEPS research goals. The article focuses particularly on whethertext types and cognitive requirements prove to be appropriate structural elementsfor the framework, that is, whether each distinguishes suffi ciently between goodand poor readers. Results also report on the dimensionality of the reading competence test. A comparison between one unidimensional and two diff erent multidimensional models examined whether the text types and/or cognitive requirementsof the items/tasks are separate dimensions of reading competence, or whetherthe reading competence measured in NEPS can – as intended – be conceived asa unidimensional construct. Results are discussed against the background of thescope and limitations of the NEPS reading competence test and the relevant research literature on reading competence.

U2 - 10.25656/01:8424

DO - 10.25656/01:8424

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 50

EP - 79

JO - J EDUC RES ONLINE-JE

JF - J EDUC RES ONLINE-JE

SN - 1866-6671

IS - 2

ER -