Analysing Log File Data from PIAAC

Abstract

The OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) was the first computer-based large-scale assessment to provide anonymised log file data from the cognitive assessment together with extensive online documentation and a data analysis support tool. The goal of the chapter is to familiarise researchers with how to access, understand, and analyse PIAAC log file data for their research purposes. After providing some conceptual background on the multiple uses of log file data and how to infer states of information processing from log file data, previous research using PIAAC log file data is reviewed. Then, the accessibility, structure, and documentation of the PIAAC log file data are described in detail, as well as how to use the PIAAC LogDataAnalyzer to extract predefined process indicators and how to create new process indicators based on the raw log data export.