Large-scale studies like TIMSS or PISA are often expected not only to describe students? specific achievement levels, but also to provide explanations for the shortcomings they detect, and to provide suggestions for possible intervention measures. However, the cross-sectional design of these studies often allows for this on only a very limited scale. Therefore, additional longitudinal studies would seem to be a logical complement to large-scale studies such as PISA, providing analyses of development, conditions, and interventions. 

The PALMA study, which has been carried out by the universities of Munich and Regensburg, should be viewed in this context. From 2002 to 2008, the study evaluated developments in academic performance in mathematics at 45 Bavarian secondary schools, comprising all three traditional German school types, Hauptschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium. The central aims of the project were: a) to analyse the development processes, prior individual abilities, and external conditions of mathematical achievement, and b) based on this, to develop specific intervention measures to improve performance. 

Comprehensive information about the study can be found at http://www.psy.uni-muenchen.de/pde/Forschungsprojekte/PALMA-DFG-Projekt.html, and at http://www.palma-projekt.de/

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In each of the 42 schools participating in the longitudinal study, the pupils in two randomly selected fifth-grade classes were assessed every year for six years. The study included not only a mathematics test, but also a questionnaire for the mathematics teachers, an extensive pupils? questionnaire, and a short parents? questionnaire.

The PALMA study was limited to Bavaria and was connected, in terms of its content and staff, to the second cycle of the international PISA study, as those bearing academic responsibility for it also belonged to the national PISA consortium or participated in drafting the questionnaires and test booklets for PISA 2003.

The PALMA study is carried out under the academic responsibility of Prof. Reinhard Pekrun, of the Institute for Educational Psychology at the University of Munich, and Prof. Rudolf vom Hofe of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Regensburg. The project is financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG), and was approved by the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and the Arts.

Since 2002, the IEA Data Processing and Research Center has performed all the preparation and field operations in connection with the PALMA study.

Svenja Bundt
IEA Data Processing and Research Center
PALMA-Studie
Mexikoring 37
22297 Hamburg
Germany

Phone: +49 40 48 500 601
Fax: +49 40 48 500 608
Email: palmaiea-dpc.de