Longitudinal studies
AlphaPlus undertakes a range of longitudinal studies, which can include the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Where innovation is taking place in the education system, clients often require a picture of the scale and nature of adoption over a period of time. For example, a longitudinal study of curriculum change enables researchers, educators and policy makers to have documented evidence of the impact of implementing curriculum change over time. As well as understanding the initial impact of the changes to specific curricula or qualifications, this work adds to the body of knowledge about curriculum change needed to make informed decisions in the future.
Data is time bound and records perceptions and perspectives at particular moments in time. Perceptions are likely to change with additional knowledge e.g. centre perceptions of how students will achieve in new examinations ahead of the results coming out give insight into how changes have been communicated to centres and how these have been interpreted at a local level – these perceptions may change in light of evidence of higher than expected pass marks. It is therefore important that the pattern of change and its management are monitored in a long-term study.
See also:
DfE evaluation of the impact of changes to A levels and GCSE
QCDA/ DfE evaluation of the pilot of GCSEs in mathematics
