Evaluation of Reading Skills Subtest Results of Countries Participating in the PISA 2009 Application via Profile Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics possibly went unnoticed over general average scores in reading skills subtest of students in countries attending the Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA in 2009, and to reveal their strengths and weaknesses within the framework of item categories in question. The sample of this research constitutes of students in 15-years-old group participating in the PISA 2009 application. In the study, performances of countries participating in the PISA 2009 application within the framework of item format, text format and cognitive process level of the text in reading skills subtest have been analyzed using the profile analysis technique and intercountry comparisons are made. Obtained remarkable findings are discussed in accordance with the related literature. Within the scope of the research, it has been concluded that evaluating countries participating in the PISA application as per their average scores results in ruling out important country-specific information at item categories level, and that it is possible to employ profile analysis, as a new approach, with a view to reveal such information.