Welcome to BiKS!

When do children learn what? How do kindergarten, school and the home environment influence learning? On which factors do parents base their choice of primary and secondary schools? These are the central questions that we – the researchers at Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg – want to answer. BiKS stands for "Bildungsprozesse, Kompetenzentwicklung und Selektionsentscheidungen im Vor- und Grundschulalter" (educational processes, competence development and selection decisions in preschool- and school age) and consists of a team of academics from the areas education, psychology and sociology. In March 2005 the BiKS project started. The study is supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

The background of the BiKS-Study

The international school achievement studies of the past few years showed that the achievements of some pupils are not as good as we had expected and wished. Further information is necessary to provide improved learning-conditions for our children. The ideal conditions for promoting children’s linguistic and cognitive development have not been explored sufficiently. Moreover little is known about the decision-making process concerning school enrolment and, later on, choosing the right secondary school. Therefore we will follow the development of a group of randomly selected children over a longer period of time.

BiKS 3-10 and BiKS 8-14

The BiKS project takes place in Kindergartens and schools in Bavaria and Hesse.

The longitudinal study "BiKS 3-10" started in autumn 2005. At that starting point, the sample assembled 550 children, which attended 97 different kindergartens. Data collection took place twice a year. Verbal and cognitive developments of the BiKS-children were tested at the kindergartens. In addition, children’s parents were interviewed personally about their children and the forthcoming school decisions. Furthermore, pre-school teachers at the kindergartens were asked about the situation of the children in the kindergartens. Most BiKS-children were enrolled for school in 2008/2009 and will be observed further in elementary school till 4th grade. At that point, a new project period started, and children’s teachers were questioned also. In addition, in selected elementary schools the class mates of the BiKS-Children and their parents were asked to participate in our study. So we expect to expand our sample up to a total of 1000 children. In addition to the regularly enrolled children, children enrolled at school earlier (in 2007/2008) or later (in 2009/2010) are observed further as well.

The longitudinal study "BiKS 8-14" started in spring 2006 and assembles 2400 students, which attended 155 different classes in 82 different schools at this time. In autumn 2007 the students left elementary school and went further on to different secondary schools. The study focuses on three school types, which reflect different school tracks. The children and their parents will be observed till 9th grade. The teachers of all these children will be questioned as well