Global evidence in local debates: the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in Swiss direct-democratic debates on school policy

Schlaufer, Caroline Lea

doi:10.48350/72899

Global evidence in local debates: the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in Swiss direct-democratic debates on school policy

DOI

10.48350/72899

Publisher DOI

10.1332/030557315X14464923526339

Abstract

This article analyses the use of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other evidence in educational policy discourse in the context of direct-democratic votes in Switzerland. The results of a quantitative content analysis show that PISA is used by all actors to support a wide range of policy measures and ideological positions. Other evidence, however, is only used to support single specific policy positions. These findings demonstrate the ubiquity of PISA. The article discusses these results in view of the question of whether the incorporation of evidence into policy debates contributes to informed discourse.

Date Issued

2015

Publication Type

Article

Subject(s)

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 350 Public administration & military science

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 320 Political science

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 370 Education

Subjects

PISA

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direct democracy