PISA Science Score: A Good Indicator of Competence in S & T?

In this study, the data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) are used to investigate whether the PISA science test score is a good indicator of competence in science and technology. The researcher uses a number of scientific and technical journal articles per million people as a measure instrument to represent the competence of science and technology. A regression model analysis suggests that the PISA science scores would significantly predict competence in S & T, even when controlling the number of researchers in R&D per million people and the R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Moreover, it shows that R&D expenditure (% of GDP) is another important determinant of the competence in S & T. Multicollinearity is also found between the R&D expenditure (% of GDP) and the number of researchers in R&D per million people. The policy implication is clear.