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Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology

International activities at the IFS

The connection to the international scientific community is of great strategic importance for the IFS.  Thus, the IFS is anchored in top national and international research. Furthermore, scientists regularly publish their research results in English-language journals or present them at international conferences. In addition, the institute regularly hosts visiting scholars; on the one hand, staff members spend research stays abroad, and on the other hand, guest lecturers from abroad come to the institute for research stays, project exchanges or guest lectures. Finally, the area of teaching at the institute is also characterized by its international orientation, as there are, for example, teaching concepts for the implementation of intercultural education in teacher training.

Bild von Menschen auf einem hell gekachelten Platz aus der Vogelperspektive, wobei verschiedene Menschen mit schwarzen Linien verbunden sind © Orbon_Alija​/​istock.com

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PIRLS: Vocabulary Shapes Educational Inequality in Reading

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Fünf Kinder sitzen auf einer Wiese in einem Park und lesen gemeinsam Bücher. © © AdobeStock.com​/​Wavebreakmedia
Early vocabulary development plays a key role in reducing educational inequality, suggest findings of a new analysis of the IGLU study.

According to the 2021 International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), one in four children leaves elementary school without being able to read well enough. Children from socially disadvantaged and immigrant families are particularly affected. Current analyses based on IGLU data now clearly show that this disparity in reading proficiency based on family background is largely explained by the children’s vocabulary. Decoding, the fluent deciphering of words, plays only a minor role in explaining these differences in proficiency when considered alongside vocabulary. To combat inequality in reading proficiency, therefore, systematic vocabulary development is needed in addition to fluent reading.

Further Information: Press release  and summary report (German)


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