User Guide for the TIMSS International Database.pdf - TIMSS and ...

Chapter 1
Overview of TIMSS and the Database User Guide
1.1 Overview of the International Database
This User Guide accompanies the TIMSS International Database for the Primary and Middle
School Years (TIMSS Populations 1 and 2). The database, provided on two compact disks,
contains achievement data (written test and performance assessment) and student, teacher, and
school background data collected in 42 countries in 1995. Table 1.1 lists, for each of
Populations 1 and 2, the countries for which written assessment and performance assessment
data are included in the International Database. Each of these countries gave the IEA
permission to release its national data.
The TIMSS International Database contains the following, for each country for which
internationally comparable data are available.
• Mathematics and science proficiency scale scores
• Students' responses to cognitive mathematics and science items
• Students' responses to hands-on performance tasks
• Students' background questionnaire data
• Mathematics and science teacher background questionnaire data
• School background questionnaire data
• Test-curriculum matching analysis data
• Sampling weights
• International codebooks
• SPSS and SAS control statement files
• Data almanacs
Given the size and complexity of TIMSS and the psychometric innovations employed, the
TIMSS database is enormous and extremely complex. There are more than 500 files on the
two compact disks containing data and documentation. Every effort has been made to
organize the database and provide adequate documentation so that researchers can access the
database for secondary analysis. Reading this User Guide is the first step in using the TIMSS
database. This guide describes TIMSS, including the data collection instruments, sample
design, and data collection procedures; documents the content and format of the data files in
the international database; and provides example analyses. Appropriate use of the various
files and variables, as well as special considerations arising from the complex design are
described. There are four supplements to the User Guide containing copies of the TIMSS
international background questionnaires, documentation of national adaptations of the
international background questionnaire items, and documentation of derived variables
reported in the international reports.
This chapter of the User Guide provides an overview of TIMSS, briefly describes the contents
of the database, and describes the contents of this User Guide.
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