Subproject 1

Framing project – familial and institutional conditions of linguistic and cognitive development of children’s abilities and decisions concerning children’s education in preschool- and school age (longitudinal studies).

Subproject 1 was responsible for the coordination of all subprojects and the realization of the two main investigations led by the BiKS project.

The investigation of relations and interdependencies between the children’s development of abilities and educational decisions was realized on the basis of longitudinal studies. In these studies, children, their parents and their preschool and primary school teachers were subjects of periodical research across a longer period. Several measures, questionnaires and observations, were used to examine the children's abilities, parent's and teachers' assessments and more. Two studies were conducted in order to find answers to the questions at the center of the BiKS project:

  • In the BiKS-3-10 longitudinal study the development of children’s abilities and decisions concerning the children’s education – especially regarding the transition from preschool to primary school – were object of investigation. Starting in the fall of 2005, a group of 600 three- and four-year-old children was observed from the time they enter preschool over a period of seven years until they have finished the 4th grade of primary school.
  • In the BiKS-8-14 longitudinal study the development of children’s abilities and decisions concerning the children’s education – especially regarding the transition from primary school to secondary school – were object of investigation. Starting in spring 2006, a group of 2,000 primary school students was followed from the beginning of the third grade over a period of six years until the completion of 9th grade of secondary school.

Children, their parents, preschool teachers and school teachers took part in the two longitudinal studies. We applied diverse tests to measure the children’s competencies, but also written questionnaires and interviews for the adult study participants as well as observations in preschool and the family.

Applicant Body

Former Employees