Professor Jo-Anne Baird
Professor Jo-Anne Baird is Director of the Department of Education, University of Oxford and a member of OUCEA. Her research interests focus upon assessment systems and recent projects include the effect of examination structures, predictability of examinations, marking quality and the definition of examination standards.
She was previously Director of OUCEA, Head of the Centre for Assessment and Learning at the University of Bristol and Head of Research at the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. In 2016 she was appointed Standing Specialist Adviser on Education to the House of Commons Select Committee on Education and also Professor II at the University of Bergen, Norway. Jo-Anne is an Editor for Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice and for the Oxford Review of Education. Jo-Anne has a presence on LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Academia.edu and Twitter: @Baird_jo_anne.
Research
Jo-Anne’s research interests include examination standards, policy and systemic aspects of assessment, e-assessment and human judgment in assessment. She was President of the Association for Educational Assessment – Europe from 2013 to 2015. In 2007, she co-edited the QCA-commissioned book, Techniques for monitoring the comparability of examinations. Jo-Anne is actively involved in the development of many assessment policies and practices, including some of the following roles in recent years: member of PISA 2018 Reading Framework Advisory Group for the Global Competency Framework, Member of OECD Technical Review Panel, Guideline Reviewer for International Test Commission, Member of Pearson Assessment Expert Panel, DCSF Independent Advisor to the Expert Group, Member of the DCSF 14-19 Expert Group, Member of the Single Level Test Evaluation Group, National Assessment Agency Independent Advisor on national curriculum standard setting, Chair of the Ofqual Technical Advisory Group for their research programme on examination reliability. She was formerly Lead Editor and is now an Executive Editor of the international research journal Assessment in Education: Principles, policy and practice.
Jo-Anne is interested in supervising research students in the following areas
- standards
- comparability and equating
- rater effects
- the relationship between assessment and learning
- assessment policy
- the philosophy of assessment
Recent Publications
2017
- Baird, J.-A., Andrich, D., Hopfenbeck, T.N., & Stobart, G. (2017) Assessment and learning: fields apart?. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 24(3). Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J.-A., Andrich, D., Hopfenbeck, T.N., & Stobart, G. (2017) Metrology of education. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 24(3). Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Elwood, J., Hopfenbeck, T. & Baird, J. (2017) Predictability in high-stakes examinations: students’ perspectives on a perennial assessment dilemma, Research Papers in Education, 32 (1), 1-17.
- Hopfenbeck, T.N., Lenkeit, J., El Masri, Y., Cantrell, K., Ryan, J. & Baird, J. (2017) Lessons Learned from PISA: A Systematic Review of Peer-Reviewed Articles on the Programme for International Student Assessment, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research [online].
2016
- Baird, J.-A, Caro, D.H. & Hopfenbeck, T.N. (2016) Student Perceptions of Predictability of Examination Requirements and Relationship with Outcomes in High-Stakes Tests in Ireland, Irish Educational Studies (online). Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J. & Gray, L. (2016) The meaning of curriculum-related examination standards in Scotland and England: a home–international comparison, Oxford Review of Education (online). Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J. & Hopfenbeck, T.N. (2016) Curriculum in the Twenty-First Century and the Future of Examinations (Chapter 51), in: Wyse, D. Hayward, L. & Pandya, J. (Eds.) The Sage Handbook of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment, Vol. 2.
- Baird, J., Johnson, S., Hopfenbeck, T.N., Isaacs, T., Sprague, T., Stobart, G. & Yu, G (2016) On the supranational spell of PISA in policy, Educational Research, 58 (2), 121-138. Special Issue: International Policy Borrowing and Evidence-based Educational Policy Making: Relationships and Tensions. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Elliott, V., Baird, J., Hopfenbeck, T.N., Ingram, J., Thompson, I., Usher, N., Zantout, M., Richardson, J. & Coleman, R. (2016) A marked improvement? A review of the evidence on written marking.Education Endowment Foundation.
- El Masri, Y.H., Baird, J. & Graesser, A. (2016) Language effects in international testing: the case of PISA 2006 science items, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice (online). Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- El Masri, Y.H., Ferrara, S., Foltz, P.W. & Baird, J. (2016) Predicting item difficulty of science national curriculum tests: the case of key stage 2 assessments, The Curriculum Journal, 28 (1), 59-82. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Newton, P.E. & Baird, J. (2016) The great validity debate (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 23 (2) – Special Issue on Validity. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
2015
- Baird, J. & Hopfenbeck, T.N. (2016) Curriculum in the Twenty-First Century and the Future of Examinations (Chapter 51), in: Wyse, D. Hayward, L. & Pandya, J. (Eds.) The Sage Handbook of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment, Vol. 2 .
- Baird, J., Meadows, M., Leckie, G, & Caro, D. (2015 online) Rater accuracy and training group effects in Expert- and Supervisor-based monitoring systems, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.
- Baird, J., Hopfenbeck, T.N., Elwood, J., Caro, D. & Ahmed, A. (2015) Predictability in the Irish Leaving Certificate, Report commissioned by the State Examinations Commission, Ireland.
- Elwood, J., Hopfenbeck, T.N. & Baird, J. (2015 online) Predictability in high-stakes examinations: students’ perspectives on a perennial assessment dilemma, Research Papers in Education. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Lenkeit, J., Chan, J., Hopfenbeck, T.N., & Baird, J.-A. (2015) A review of the representation of PIRLS related research in scientific journals, Educational Research Review, 16, 102-115.
2014
- Baird, J. (2014) Teachers’ views on assessment practices (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 21 (4), 361-364. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J., Hopfenbeck, T.N., Newton, P., Stobart, G. & Steen-Utheim, A.T. (2014) State of the Field Review: Assessment and Learning. Report for the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for Education.
- Baird, J. (2014) Assessment and Attitude (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 21 (2), 129-132. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J. (2014) Editorial, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 21 (1), 1-3. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
2013
- Baird, J. (2013) Judging students’ performances (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 20 (3), 247-249.
- Baird, J. (2013) The currency of assessments (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 20 (2), 147-149.
- Baird, J., Ahmed, A., Hopfenbeck, T., Brown, C. & Elliott, V. (2013) Research evidence relating to proposals for reform of the GCSE. OUCEA Report.
- Baird, J. & Black, P. (2013) (Eds) The reliability of public examinations, Research Papers in Education, 28 (1), Special Issue.
- Baird, J. & Black, P. (2013) Test theories, educational priorities and reliability of public examinations in England, Research Papers in Education, 28 (1), 5-21.
- Baird, J. & Black, P. (2013) The reliability of public examinations, Research Papers in Education, 28 (1), 1-4.
- Baird, J., Hayes, M., Johnson, R., Johnson, S. & Lamprianou, I. (2013) Marker effects and examination reliability: A comparative exploration from the perspectives of generalizability theory, Rasch modelling and multilevel modelling. Report commissioned by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. Ofqual/13/5261.
- Elwood, J. & Baird, J. (2013) (Eds) Students: researching voice, aspirations and perspectives in the context of educational policy change in the 14–19 phase, London Review of Education, 8 (2), Special Issue.
- Rose, J. & Baird, J. (2013) Aspirations and an austerity state: young people’s hopes and goals for the future, London Review of Education, 11 (2), 157-153. Special Issue: Students: researching voice, aspirations and perspectives in the context of educational policy change in the 14–19 phase.
- Simpson, L. & Baird, J. (2013) Perceptions of trust in public examinations, Oxford Review of Education, 39 (1), 17-35.
2012
- Baird, J. (2012) Science and misfits (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 19 (2), 141-145.
- Baird, J., Elwood, J. & Isaacs, T. (2012) Written evidence submitted to the Education Select Committee’s Inquiry into the administration of examinations for 15-19 year olds in England.
- Baird, J., Rose, J. & McWhirter, A. (2012) So tell me what you want: a comparison of FE college and other post-16 students’ aspirations, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 17 (3), 293-310.
- Baird, J., Pillinger, R. & Steele, F. (2012) Use of the LEMMA Online Learning Materials, Report prepared for the LEMMA (Learning Environment for Multilevel Modelling and Applications) node, University of Bristol, January. For background information click here.
- Daly, A., Baird, J., Chamberlain, S. & Meadows, M. (2012) Assessment reform: students’ and teachers’ responses to the introduction of stretch and challenge at A-level, Curriculum Journal, 23 (2), 173-187.
2011
- Baird, J. (2011) Does the learning happen inside the black box? (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice,18 (4), 343-345.
- Baird, J. (2011) Why do people appeal Higher Education grades and what can it tell us about the meaning of standards? Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 18 (1), 1-4.
- Baird, J., Beguin, A., Black, P., Pollitt, A. & Stanley, G. (2011) The Reliability Programme: Final Report of the Technical Advisory Group. Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator Report. Ofqual/11/4825. Ofqual, Coventry.
- Baird, J., Elwood, J., Duffy, G., Feiler, A., O’Boyle, A., Rose, J. & Stobart, G (2011) 14-19 Centre Research Study: educational reforms in schools and colleges in England Annual Report. London: QCDA.
- Baird, J., Isaacs, T., Johnson, S., Stobart, G., Yu, G., Sprague, T. & Daugherty, R. (2011) Policy Effects of PISA. Report commissioned by Pearson UK.
- Leckie, G. & Baird, J. (2011) Rater Effects on Essay Scoring: A Multilevel Analysis of Severity Drift, Central Tendency, and Rater Experience, Journal of Educational Measurement, 48 (4), 399-418.
2010
- Baird, J. (2010) Construct‐irrelevant variance sometimes has consequential validity (Editorial), Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 17 (4), 339-343. Click here to download – the first 50 downloads are free.
- Baird, J. (2010) Beliefs and practice in teacher assessment, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 17 ( 1), 1-5.
- Baird, J. (2010) Construct-irrelevant variance sometimes has consequential validity, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 17 (4), 339-343.
- Baird, J. (2010) Country case study – England. In Vlaardingerbroek, B. & Taylor, N. (Editors) Secondary School External Examination Regimes: A Global Overview of a Robust Educational Phenomenon. Cambria Press, New York.
- Baird, J. (2010) Examinations versus teacher assessments, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 17 (3), 251-254.
- Baird, J. (2010) The theory-practice gap, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 17 (2), 113-116.Baird, J. (2010) What constitutes legitimate causal linking? Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspective, 8 (4), 151-153.
2009 and earlier
- Baird, J. (2008) Independent Adviser’s Report 2008. A report on the statutory assessment level setting process for the National Assessment Agency. National Assessment Agency Report, July.
- Baird, J. (2009) Macro and micro influences on assessment, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 16 (2), 127-129.
- Baird, J., Chamberlain, S., Meadows, M., Royal-Dawson, L. & Taylor, R. (2009) Students’ views of stretch and challenge in A-level examinations. March. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Report.
- Baird, J. & Coxell, A. (2009) Policy, Latent Error and Systemic Examination Failures. CADMO, XVII (2), 105-122.
- Baird, J., Daly, A., Tremain, K. & Meadows, M. (2009) Stretch and challenge in A-level examinations: teachers’ views of the new assessments. March. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Report.
- Baird, J. & Lee-Kelley, L. (2009) The dearth of managerialism in the implementation of national assessment policy, Journal of Education Policy, 24 (1), 55-81.
- Baird, J., Oates, T., Patrick, H., Stobart, G. Whetton, C., Blaker, P., Sandhu, K., Watson C. & Wood, A. (2008) Single Level Tests. Interim Technical Report: December 2007 Test Session. National Assessment Agency Report.
- Baird, J. & Stobart, G. (2009) Conceptualising the Single Level Tests. National Assessment Agency Report.
- Leckie, G., Royal-Dawson, L. & Baird, J. (2009) Changes in the severity of marking as a function of number of scripts marked: Key Stage 3 English Writing Summer 2008 quality assurance data. National Assessment Agency Report, February.
- Royal-Dawson, L. & Baird, J. (2009) Is Teaching Experience Necessary for Reliable Scoring of Extended English Questions? Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 28 (2), 2-8.
- Royal-Dawson, L, Leckie, G. & Baird, J. (2009) An Operational Report On Item Statistics For Standardisation & Benchmarking Data – 2008 National Curriculum Tests, for National Assessment Agency.
- Newton, P.E., Stobart, G., Goldstein, H., Harlen, W., Baird, J. & Winter, J. (2008) Return of the bible. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 15 (3), 307–320. Special Issue: International Comparative Studies in Achievement.
- Newton, P., Baird, J., Goldstein, H., Patrick, H. & Tymms, P. (Editors) (2007) Comparability of UK public examinations. QCA book publication.
- Newton, P.E., Goldstein, H., Tymms, P. & Baird, J. (2007) What has England learned from decades of monitoring the comparability of examination standards? Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Report. September.
- Pollitt, A., Ahmed, A., Baird, J., Tognolini, J. & Davidson, M. (2008) Improving the quality of GCSE assessment. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Report, January.