The socioeconomic index in the analysis of large-scale assessments: Case study in Baja California (Mexico)

Abstract

The generalization of assessment instruments for Elementary Education students, at the national and international level, involves the appearance of new techniques in the analysis of statistical results that allow the comparison between geographical areas, schools and students. In this way, the context surveys emerge as measures associated with the achievement tests to control the contextual factors with influence over the students. Although in the literature the socioeconomic level is imposed as a key contextual variable, there is not a particular standard to construct scales of this type at the international level. This study, from an initial sample of 6765 students and 78 educative centers located in Baja California (México), describes the process carried out for the construction of a scale for the socioeconomic level measurement and it validates the results obtained in relation with the "Tests ENLACE", applied to Elementary Education students at the national level. Therefore, this proposal pretends to create a specific model for the construction of these contextual scales of socioeconomic level, taking into account its relation with the own Tests ENLACE. Finally, it is shown the importance of contextual aspects as in the analysis of achievement tests as in the construction of contextual scales included as covariables in this type of analysis.