An Atlantic Crossing? The Work of the International Examination Inquiry, its Researchers, Methods and Influence

This book focuses on the International Examinations Inquiry (IEI), an international, well-funded scientific project that operated in the 1930s, attracting key world figures in educational research, and which undertook significant exchanges of data. Originally involving the USA, Scotland, England, France, Germany and Switzerland, the IEI grew to include Norway, Sweden and Finland. Funded by Carnegie money, these researchers included major comparative educationalists, New Education Fellowship academics, statisticians and educational psychologists. They met at a significant time in the emergence of international scientific work in educational research between the USA and Europe; they were a midway stage between earlier individual contacts by well-travelled researchers, usually towards North America, and the development of joint research projects, sustained over time. The focus of the IEI was on methods of examining pupils for the coming expansion of secondary education, but their key problems were to do with establishing standardized methods of measurement, international scholarly communication and comparative understandings of national diversity. The IEI researchers acted to support national achievements and strategies within the borders of the nation and internationally, to exchange methods and results. In retrospect, they appear to be visible in their knowledge communities and national education histories but invisible in their internationalism.CONTENTS Introduction. An Atlantic Crossing? The Work of the International Examinations Inquiry, its Researchers, Methods and Influence Martin Lawn. Blowing up the Citadel of Examinations: the English Committee and the Carnegie Corporation Florian Waldow. Awkward Knowledge: the German delegation to the International Examinations Inquiry Rita Hofstetter & Bernard Schneuwly. Bovet's Dilemma - Examinations or No Examinations: the Swiss contribution to the Carnegie initiative Marc Zarrouati. The Battle of the Baccalaureat: the long forgotten story of a divided committee Martin Lawn, Ian Deary & David Bartholomew. Naive, Expert and Willing Partners: the Scottish Council for Research in Education in the International Examinations Inquiry Minna Vourio-Lehti & Annukka Jauhiainen. Laurin Zilliacus and the 'War' against the Finnish Matriculation Examination Christian Lundahl. Inter/national Assessments as National Curriculum: the case of Sweden Harold Jarning & Gro Hanne Aas. Between Common Schooling and the Academe: the International Examinations Inquiry in Norway, 1935-1961 Notes on Contributors