ABSTRACT

This paper investigates how and why test-based accountability (TBA), a global model for education reform, began to dominate educational debates in Norway in the early 2000s, and how this policy has been operationalised and institutionalised over time. In examining the adoption and retention of TBA in Norway, we build on the cultural political economy framework, in combination with a political sociology-driven approach to policy instruments. The analysis draws on two data sources: four White Papers and 37 in-depth interviews with top-level politicians, policy-makers and stakeholders, conducted between September 2017 and February 2018. The findings indicate that ‘scandalisation’ of Norway’s below-expected PISA results and promotion of standardised testing as a neutral device contributed to the relatively abrupt adoption of national testing in the early 2000s. The increasingly dominant policy discourse equalising education quality and learning outcomes led to the institutionalisation of TBA, developed to ensure equity and quality standards in a decentralised education system. Increased visibility, benchmarking and administrative control are identified as key mechanisms in putting pressure on local actors to re-orient their behaviour. The study provides original insights into the drivers, expectations and strategies underlying TBA in a social democratic institutional regime.

摘要

本文调查了基于考试的问责制 (TBA) 这一全球教育改革模式如何以及为何在 2000 年代初开始主导挪威的教育辩论，以及该政策是如何随着时间的推移而实施和制度化的。在研究挪威 TBA 的采用和保留时，我们以文化政治经济框架为基础，结合政治社会学驱动的政策工具方法。该分析利用两个数据来源：2017 年 9 月至 2018 年 2 月期间进行的四份白皮书和 37 次对高层政治家、政策制定者和利益相关者的深入采访。调查结果表明，挪威低于预期的 PISA 结果的“丑闻”以及标准化测试作为一种中立设备的推广导致了 2000 年代初期国家测试的相对突然采用。均衡教育质量和学习成果的日益占主导地位的政策话语导致了 TBA 的制度化，旨在确保分散教育系统中的公平和质量标准。提高知名度、基准和行政控制被确定为向当地参与者施加压力以重新调整其行为的关键机制。该研究提供了对社会民主制度体制中 TBA 背后的驱动因素、期望和策略的独到见解。均衡教育质量和学习成果的日益占主导地位的政策话语导致了 TBA 的制度化，旨在确保分散教育系统中的公平和质量标准。提高知名度、基准和行政控制被确定为向当地参与者施加压力以重新调整其行为的关键机制。该研究提供了对社会民主制度体制中 TBA 背后的驱动因素、期望和策略的独到见解。均衡教育质量和学习成果的日益占主导地位的政策话语导致了 TBA 的制度化，旨在确保分散教育系统中的公平和质量标准。提高知名度、基准和行政控制被确定为向当地参与者施加压力以重新调整其行为的关键机制。该研究提供了对社会民主制度体制中 TBA 背后的驱动因素、期望和策略的独到见解。