- Institute of Education,
University of London - University of Michigan
- Michigan State University
- University of Jena
- University of Tubingen
- University of Helsinki
- University of Stockholm
The longitudinal projects groupdirected by Professor Dr. Ulrich Trautwein is part of the Center for Educational Research at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (MPI). It investigates the effects of educational systems, family environments, and broader social and political contexts on the development of knowledge and skills, motivational structures, social resources, well-being, and the transition from school to university or vocational training. Two large-scale longitudinal studies form the basis for this research program. TheLearning Processes, Educational Careers, and Psychosocial Development in Adolescence and Young Adulthood (BIJU) study was initiated in 1991 with a sample of more than 5,000 13-year-olds. Data from six measurement points are now available for this main cohort. The longitudinal Transformation of the Upper Secondary School System and Academic Careers (TOSCA)study was initiated in 2002 as an extension to the BIJU study, with further assessments being carried out in 2004 and 2006. In 2005, instruments developed for BIJU and TOSCA in collaboration with Prof. Lehmann and Prof. Köller from the Humboldt University of Berlin were used in the LAU 13 study on aspects of student learning in grade 13.
The center is involved in several international collaboration projects.
For instance, MPI researchers and researchers from the University of Michigan have co-authored articles on academic choices and the transition to vocational training under the affordances and constraints of two different educational systems. Similarly, the MPI is involved in a collaborative project with the University of Oxford on the effects of educational contexts on the development of self-related cognitions. The MPI is highly committed to offering an excellent environment for Ph.D.
students and young researchers, which has resulted in a strong record of Ph.D. production and high numbers of articles in leading international journals (co-)authored by Ph.D. students and post-doc fellows. The MPI also co-hosts the very successful International Max Planck Research School“The Life Course: Evolutionary and Ontogenetic
Dynamics”(http://www.imprs-life.mpg.de/) for Ph.D. students. Further, the MPI is involved in research training for young scholars; last year, for instance, a summer academy on educational measurement (http://www.em2007.mpg.de/objectives/objectives.htm) was offered.
