Educational Achievement: Patterns and Trends

Abstract

The findings of the research are presented in two parts: the first part is concerned with analysis of the quantitative data acquired by using questionnaires and standardised tests; the second is concerned with findings from the interview data and other sources. We saw the need for both qualitative field studies and quantitative data, combining the psychometric techniques with the interview data in a broad-front approach to the study. It was hoped that presenting the information from questionnaires and tests would establish the broad findings of the research in a form where decisions concerning the representativeness of the data might be made. The uniqueness of the individual experience consisting of the opinions and experiences of the youngsters was intended to give greater depth to the statistical findings which may otherwise appear impersonal. Such close scrutiny of individual cases gave us some understanding of the complexity of differential academic achievement across ethnic groups and led us away from simplistic concepts of cause and effect in the education of young people.