Reading Achievement in New Zealand in 1990 and 2001: Results from the Trends in IEA's Reading Literacy Study

Summary

The Trends in IEA's Reading Literacy Study was a partial replication of IEA's 1990-1991 study of reading literacy. The Trends study was conducted in conjunction with the Progress in Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the first in a regular cycle of studies, which is the subject of a separate report (published in 2004). The aim of this report is to present a descriptive summary of similarities and differences between the achievement in reading literacy of New Zealand Year 5 students in 2001 and that of their counterparts in 1990. Year 5 students' achievement is examined in both a national and international setting with reference to the home and classroom context in which reading activities occur.

This report is divided into six sections:

• Chapter 1 provides an overview of the design of the Trends study, along with details of the implementation of the study in New Zealand.
• Chapter 2 contains information on the reading achievement of Year 5 students in an international context with a particular focus on changes over time.
• Chapter 3 focuses on changes in the background characteristics of students, including leisure activities.
• Chapter 4 provides details of the home context of students, particularly resources and activities that would promote reading as a leisure activity along with how these have altered since 1990.
• Chapter 5 contains information on Year 5 students' perceptions of the activities that they do in the classroom and changes in these over the decade.

A brief summary of the main findings concludes this report.

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