Assessment of citizenship competences

This dissertation offers a synthesis of different approaches to assessing citizenship competences. Citizenship competences encompass a broad range of aspects, e.g. knowledge of democratic decision-making or attitudes towards societal differences. Assessment instruments therefore generally focus on a broad range of contents. Furthermore, citizenship competences can be assessed in different ways, and for different purposes. This dissertation inter alia presents a set of criteria based on which tests and questionnaires, portfolio, game-based assessment, and vignettes are reviewed. A newly developed set of rubrics to assess citizenship competences is tested and evaluated. Compared to the prevalent instruments that typically employ tests and questionnaires, rubrics offer a viable assessment that could help teachers and students gain a more comprehensive insight into their citizenship competences. The most fruitful way forward appears to invest in further expanding the instruments available, so that depending on the purpose of assessment the most suitable method of assessment may be selected.