6533b7dbfe1ef96bd1270879

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Finnish Students' School Engagement Profiles in the Light of PISA 2003

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description

The aim of this study is to examine Finnish students' school engagement profiles in the light of the data collected in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) in 2003. Even though Finnish students' cognitive achievement has proved excellent in various international assessments, their school engagement has not been flattering. The article first defines the concept of school engagement and discusses some previous findings on students' attitudes and socio‐emotional disposition towards school life. Next, on the basis of students' responses to the PISA 2003 survey questionnaire, students are grouped and the groups profiled by cluster analysis into six distinct clusters in terms of peer acceptance, student‐teacher relations and perceptions of the value of school and education for the future. This is followed by a description of the cluster profiles and their examination in relation to students' gender and socio‐economic background as well as to their performance in mathematics, reading and sci...