Nele Kampa|Olaf Köller
German National Proficiency Scales in Biology: Internal Structure, Relations to General Cognitive Abilities and Verbal Skills
Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education|Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education
national international largescale assessments lsa major impact educational systems raises fundamental questions validity measures regarding internal structure relations relevant covariates given importance research validity instruments specifically developed lsa still sparse especially science subdomains biology chemistry physics however policy decisions improvement educational quality based lsa helpful valid information students achievement levels provided present study nature measurement instruments based german educational standards biology examined basis data 3165 students grade 10 present dimensional analyses report relationship different subdimensions biology literacy cognitive covariates general cognitive abilities verbal skills theorydriven twodimensional model fitted data best content knowledge scientific inquiry two subdimensions biology literacy highly correlated show differential correlational patterns covariates argue underlying structure biology incorporated curricula teacher training future assessments