Subject-Specific Certification of Teachers and Student Achievement
(2025) NEKH01 20242Department of Economics
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The thesis sets out to investigate the research question “Does subject certification affect student achievement in mathematics?” By using data from an international large-scale assessment of student skills, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the thesis uses student achievement scores in mathematics as the dependent variable in a series of multiple linear regression models. Specifically, the sample selection is data from grade 8 in Sweden in 2019. Teachers’ major in their university education is selected as a proxy for subject certification. The Swedish school system regarding teacher certification is explained.
Another teacher characteristic, experience, is added to the model as a teacher-level control,... (More) - The thesis sets out to investigate the research question “Does subject certification affect student achievement in mathematics?” By using data from an international large-scale assessment of student skills, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the thesis uses student achievement scores in mathematics as the dependent variable in a series of multiple linear regression models. Specifically, the sample selection is data from grade 8 in Sweden in 2019. Teachers’ major in their university education is selected as a proxy for subject certification. The Swedish school system regarding teacher certification is explained.
Another teacher characteristic, experience, is added to the model as a teacher-level control, followed by various socioeconomic status indicators as student-level and school-level controls. The thesis finds no significant impact on student achievement if the mathematics teacher majored in educational mathematics, compared to a teacher who is most likely a licensed teacher but did not major in mathematics. Evidence was found that the socioeconomic status indicators included in the model were harmful for student achievement. The results were typical for previous research in economics of education. (Less) - Popular Abstract (Swedish)
- The thesis sets out to investigate the research question “Does subject certification affect student achievement in mathematics?” By using data from an international large-scale assessment of student skills, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the thesis uses student achievement scores in mathematics as the dependent variable in a series of multiple linear regression models. Specifically, the sample selection is data from grade 8 in Sweden in 2019. Teachers’ major in their university education is selected as a proxy for subject certification. The Swedish school system regarding teacher certification is explained.
Another teacher characteristic, experience, is added to the model as a teacher-level control,... (More) - The thesis sets out to investigate the research question “Does subject certification affect student achievement in mathematics?” By using data from an international large-scale assessment of student skills, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the thesis uses student achievement scores in mathematics as the dependent variable in a series of multiple linear regression models. Specifically, the sample selection is data from grade 8 in Sweden in 2019. Teachers’ major in their university education is selected as a proxy for subject certification. The Swedish school system regarding teacher certification is explained.
Another teacher characteristic, experience, is added to the model as a teacher-level control, followed by various socioeconomic status indicators as student-level and school-level controls. The thesis finds no significant impact on student achievement if the mathematics teacher majored in educational mathematics, compared to a teacher who is most likely a licensed teacher but did not major in mathematics. Evidence was found that the socioeconomic status indicators included in the model were harmful for student achievement. The results were typical for previous research in economics of education. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9182498
- author
- Sjögren, Erik LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- NEKH01 20242
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Keywords: subject certification, subject-specific teacher qualifications, education outcomes
- language
- English
- id
- 9182498
- date added to LUP
- 2025-05-08 09:16:36
- date last changed
- 2025-05-08 09:16:36
@misc{9182498,
abstract = {{The thesis sets out to investigate the research question “Does subject certification affect student achievement in mathematics?” By using data from an international large-scale assessment of student skills, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the thesis uses student achievement scores in mathematics as the dependent variable in a series of multiple linear regression models. Specifically, the sample selection is data from grade 8 in Sweden in 2019. Teachers’ major in their university education is selected as a proxy for subject certification. The Swedish school system regarding teacher certification is explained.
Another teacher characteristic, experience, is added to the model as a teacher-level control, followed by various socioeconomic status indicators as student-level and school-level controls. The thesis finds no significant impact on student achievement if the mathematics teacher majored in educational mathematics, compared to a teacher who is most likely a licensed teacher but did not major in mathematics. Evidence was found that the socioeconomic status indicators included in the model were harmful for student achievement. The results were typical for previous research in economics of education.}},
author = {{Sjögren, Erik}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Subject-Specific Certification of Teachers and Student Achievement}},
year = {{2025}},
}