Analyzing Scientific Literacy in Asia’s Top Five PISA 2022 Performers Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling and Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice

This study analyzed the top five economies in scientific literacy in PISA 2022: Singapore, Japan, Macau, Taiwan, and South Korea, using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and Bourdieu’s theory of practice to examine how student- and school-level factors shape science performance. Analysis revealed key variations at the student level, including dispositions such as perseverance and emotional control, along with cultural and economic capital, which all mediated access to science learning. At the school level, institutional fields, structured by climate, competition, and resource allocation, also shaped learning opportunities. Cross-level interactions showed how policy environments mediate individual characteristics to produce distinct achievement patterns. Some systems relied on centralized governance, while others leveraged competition to sustain excellence. By embedding statistical analysis within a sociocultural framework, the study offers insights into the structural and symbolic dynamics underpinning scientific literacy and contributes to global conversations on equity and excellence in science education.