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Safi tri Yosita R.: Students Factors Infl uencing…(page 24-32)
problems based on data collected from a 2011. Although there is progress, educators
PIRLS survey. in the country are still deeply concerned
The study is concerned with reading about the lack of the scores below 500. Thus,
literacy assessment based on PIRLS the study seeks to examine why the students
instead of on math or science provided by get low scores as manifested by some factors
another similar test of PISA which assesses from students in the latest PIRLS survey.
reading, math, and science. This is related Initially, PIRLS is a collaborative
to researcher’s background of social science effort among member countries of the IEA
for primary schools. Hence, advantages of (International Association for the Evaluation
having previous own knowledge and basic of Educational Achievement) to measure
information about primary school students the outcomes of children’s reading literacy
broadly bring perspective in conducting this achievement in the fourth grade. PIRLS
study. becomes the first continuing five-year cycle
An important finding is derived from the of studies in monitoring reading progress. It
PIRLS tests 2006 and 2011, 405 in the test is also designed to assess changes into the
of 2006 and 428 in the test of 2011 bring a future, for example, providing educational
concern in which the mean scores are below achievements, policies, and learning context.
the PIRLS scale average (500). However, The test has a comprehensive design that aims
little precious evident has been published on to assess students on reading performance
examining factors that influence the low level and collect information on students, their
result of Indonesian students. On the other families, teachers, and factors related to that
hand, PIRLS is initially a survey that reveals school that helps explain differences in the
a lot of valuable information based on factors performance results.
from students, teachers, and schools. Thus, it The assessment focuses on three prin-
is important to answer such question as why ciple areas of reading literacy aspects: reading
Indonesian students get low scores below purposes, the process of comprehension, and
the average. Instead of comparing scores reading behaviours and attitudes. The test
across countries, here the study focuses on has been adopted by 36 countries during the
the trends in the Indonesian samples of 2011 first testing in 2001, then by 45 countries in
for the factors influencing reading literacy. 2006 and 2011. The test consists of a written
As an implication, the data can be used as reading comprehension and a background
reflection which addresses the problem of questionnaire provided by the PIRLS
the education system in Indonesia especially Reading Development Group (RDG) and
in reading literacy assessment. National Research Coordinator (NRC) from
In addition, according to OECD (2010), the initial 35 countries.
the main factors which may determine The written test is designed to fulfil the
students’ reading literacy come from students. objectives of the process of comprehension
Students’ factors are related to reading and the purposes of reading, while the
experience, process, comprehension, and background questionnaire is intended to
supportive reading attitudes and behaviours. discover the reading behaviours and attitudes.
On the world-wide scale, Indonesian students The three PIRLS surveys are conducted
fail to make gains considerably in the PIRLS in 2001, 2006, and 2011. An international
reading literacy score between 2006 and standard has been set which has a range of
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