Empirical Education Research with a focus on Teaching and Learning K-12

At the center are questions concerning competence acquisition as well as the challenges and potentials that arise in the context of heterogeneity and social inequality. To address these questions, the group employs various empirical approaches, including large-scale assessments, intervention studies, experimental designs, and panel studies. The research activities of the group encompass three key areas of work: analyzing the status quo and the development of individual competence acquisition and developmental trajectories within their individual, social, and institutional conditions; developing and evaluating targeted support measures; and designing and validating tailored assessment instruments while applying state-of-the-art methods. Substantively, the activities are organized into three research domains:

• Language Competencies and Reading
• Competencies for Democracy and Civil Society, Identity, and Social Cohesion
• School Development and Education Systems