IERI is a collaborative effort between the Research & Development Division at ETS and the IEA Data Processing and Research Ce ... nter that focuses on improving the science of large-scale assessments. IERI undertakes activities around three broad areas of work that include research studies related to the development and implementation of large-scale assessments; professional development and training; and dissemination of research findings and information gathered through large-scale assessments. IERI undertakes research activities that address issues surrounding large-scale assessments such as IEA-TIMSS, IEA-PIRLS, OECD-PISA, US-NAEP, IALS, ALL, etc. The label “virtual” is attached to the research area to emphasize that the research projects are hosted in the funding institutions, but are facilitated by Web-based collaboration as well as by the shared joint expertise of researchers involved in work on large-scale assessments. The aim of this virtual research area is to contribute to the science of large-scale assessments so that the best available information is provided to policy makers and researchers from around the world. read more