Im Fokus: Potenziale von Large-Scale Assessments und Längsschnittstudien zur Kompetenzentwicklung über die Lebensspanne – analytische und orientierende Perspektiven

This paper brings into focus the discourse on competences and reviews critically the potential of large-scale assessments. The measurement of competences in adulthood is a step towards a deeper understanding of the development of competences during the life course, although only domain specific and not general competences are taken into consideration. Based on the current research, the debate on competences will be reflected and the central points in the field of modeling the constructs of skills and competences will be presented. The analysis of competences in the PIAAC and in the CILL study is basic for further research in this area. But longitudinal studies offer potentials for advanced knowledge and understanding; these possibilities will be explored on a methodological basis and demonstrated with respect to the panel study NEPS.