BackgroundThe release of the (first round of ) PIAAC data in 2013 has drawn educational researchers' attention to a thus far neglected target group in education: adult learners. With respect to literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments (ICT) skills, PIAAC data reveals differences across the participating countries (OECD 2013a). Going beyond cross-national comparisons, the general OECD report (OECD 2013a) and country-specific publications (e.g., Maehler et al. 2013; Statistics Canada 2013) provide in-depth analyses of specific population subgroup competencies that are relevant for researchers, educators, and policy-makers alike. These analyses show systematic skill differences across gender, age groups, level of education, and migration Abstract Background: Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) revealed that countries systematically differ in their respondents' literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments skills; skill levels also vary by gender, age, level of education or migration background. Similarly, systematic differences have been documented with respect to adults' participation in education, which can be considered as a means to develop and maintain skills. From a psychological perspective, motivation to learn is considered a key factor associated with both skill development and participation in (further) education. In order to account for motivation when analyzing PIAAC data, four items from the PIAAC background questionnaire were recently compiled into a motivation-to-learn scale. This scale has been found to be invariant (i.e., showing full weak and partial strong measurement invariance) across 21 countries.Methods: This paper presents further analyses using multiple-group graded response models to scrutinize the validity of the motivation-to-learn scale for group comparisons.
Results:Results indicate at least partial strong measurement invariance across gender, age groups, level of education, and migration background in most countries under study (all CFI > .95, all RMSEA < .08). Thus, the scale is suitable for comparing both means and associations across these groups. Conclusions: Results are discussed in light of country characteristics, challenges of measurement invariance testing, and potential future research using PIAAC data.
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