David P. Baker
Short Biography & Significant Contribution
David P. Baker is a professor and senior scientist at Penn State University. He attended Albion College for his Bachelor's degree and pursued a degree in Social Psychology and Sociology. After his graduation from Albion College he attended Boston University where he received his Master's degree in Communication Research. In 1982, Baker received his Ph.D. in Sociology from John's Hopkins University.
After completing his Ph.D. at John's Hopkins University, Baker accepted a position as a visiting assistant professor of Sociology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1986 his role changed to permanent assistant professor of Sociology, which was then changed again in 1989 when he became an associate professor at the University. In 1997 Baker moved to the Pennsylvania State University where he accepted the role as professor of Sociology and professor of Education. During his first few years at the University (1997-2000) Baker was the professor-in-charge of the Education Theory and Policy Program. Also from 2006-2007 Baker was the professor-in-charge of the Comparative and International Education Program.
Baker has made significant contributions to the field of research in Comparative and International Education. His research includes work in the following areas: transformation in the schooled society, AIDS/HIV in South Africa, effects of health in Ghana, research and higher education, globalization of education, inequalities in education, and educational policies in Germany and Japan. One of the many awards that Baker has received through the years was for a study titled, "Socio-economic Status, School Quality, and National Economic Development: A Cross-national Analysis of the 'Heyneman-Loxley Effect' on Mathematics and Science Achievement." This study received the 2002-2003 Award for the Outstanding International Study by the American Education Research Association.
In addition to the classes that Baker currently teaches in the Education and Sociology programs at Penn State, Baker currently serves as a Population Research Institute Associate, a Senior Scientist at the Center for the Study of Education, and as a Research Affiliate at the Group for Analysis of Development. Baker has also served in the Comparative and International Education Society. He was the former vice-president of the society and is the current president of CIES (2012-2013).
Educational Background
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1982. Sociology.
M.S., Boston University, Boston, MA, 1975. Communication Research.
B..A., Albion College, Albion, MI, 1974. Social Psychology/Sociology.
Professional Background
Senior Scientist, The Center for the Study of Higher Education, The Pennsylvania State University, 2005-
Technical Expert Design Groups, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Cross-national Survey of Teachers and Teaching; and PISA, Paris, 2004-
Senior Research Scientist, Population Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, 1998-
Associate Director of the Social Science Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, 2002-2005
Chair, Sociology of Education Section, American Sociological Association, 2000-2001
Senior Advisor to U.S. Board on International Comparative Studies in Education, National Research Council, Conference on "Next Steps for TIMSS," 1998
Advisor, National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences, Board on Testing and Assessment, National Academies' Center, Woods Hold, MA, 1997
Technical Design Group, National Longitudinal Survey of Schools for Evaluation of New Provisions in Title I, U.S. Department of Education, 1997
Secretary/Treasurer of Sociology of Education Section, American Sociological Association.Editorial Board for Teachers College Record, 1995-2001
"Committee to Enhance the Profession", Comparative International Education Society, 1994-95
Affiliations (associations, organizations, institutions)
Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) President 2012-2013
Selected Publications
Baker, D., Leon, J., and J. Collins (2010). "Facts, Attitudes, and Health Reasoning about HIV and AIDS: Explaining the Education Effect on Condom Use among Adults in subSaharan Africa." AIDS and Behavior, 11(June), 1-9 doi: 10.1007/s10461-010-9717-9.
Baker, D., Collins, J., and Leon, J. (2009). "Risk Factor or Social Vaccine? The Historical Progression of the Role of Education in HIV/AIDS Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa." Prospects: Quarterly Review of Comparative Education, 38, 4, 467-486, UNESCO: Paris France.
Baker, D. (2009). "The Invisible Hand of World Education Culture: Thoughts for Policy Makers." Pg. 958-968. In Sykes, G., Schneider, B., and Plank, D. (eds.), Chapter , American Education Research Association's Handbook of Education Policy Research. AERA: Washington D.C.
Baker, D., Koehler, H. and M. Stock. (2007) "Socialist ideology and the contraction of higher education: Institutional consequences of state manpower and education planning in the former East Germany, 1949 to 1989." Comparative Education Review, 51, 3, 353-377.
Baker, D., Series Senior Editor, International Perspectives on Education and Society. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Science Ltd.:
Volume 10: Baker, D. P., & Wiseman, A. W. (Eds.). (2009). Gender, Equality, and Education from International and Comparative Perspectives. International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing).
Volume 9: Baker, D. P., & Wiseman, A. W. (Eds.). (2008). The WorldwideTransformation of Higher Education. International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing).
Volume 8: Baker, D. P., & Wiseman, A. W. (Eds.). (2007). Education for All: Global Promises, National Challenges, The International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Oxford: Elsevier Science, Ltd.).
Volume 7: Baker, D. P., & Wiseman, A. W. (Eds.). (2006). The Impact of Comparative Education Research on Institutional Theory. The International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Oxford: Elsevier Science, Ltd.).
Volume 6: Baker, D. P., & Wiseman, A. W. (Eds.). (2005). Global Trends in Educational Policy. The International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Oxford: Elsevier Science, Ltd.).
Volume 5: Baker, D. P. (Series Editor), (2002) New Paradigms and Recurring Paradoxes in Education for Citizenship: An International Comparison. Steiner, G., Torney-Purta, J., and Schwille, J. guest editors. The International Perspectives on Education and Society Series (Oxford: Elsevier Science, Ltd.).
Baker, David (2006). "Can We Predict Institutional Change? Evidence from Cross-national Comparisons of Educational Phenomena." In Meyer, H., and Rowan, B. (eds.) The New Institutionalism in Education. SUNY Press: New York.
Baker, D., and G., LeTendre (2005) National Differences, Global Similarities: World Culture and the Future of Schooling. Stanford CA: Stanford University Press. Translated and printed in Vietnam, 2010, Pham Tan Hoang Son.
Baker, D., Fabrega, R., Galindo, C., and J. Mishook. (2004). "Instructional Time and National Achievement: Cross-national Evidence." Prospects, Quarterly Review of Comparative Education, UNESCO: Paris France, XXXIV, 3, 311-334.
Baker, D., Goesling, B. and LeTendre, G. (2002). "Socio-economic Status, School Quality, and National Economic Development: A Cross-national Analysis of the "Heyneman-Loxley Effect" on Mathematics and Science Achievement" Comparative Education Review 46 (3) 291-312.
Baker, D. , Akiba, M., LeTendre, G., & Wiseman, A. (2001). "Worldwide Shadow Education: Outside-School Learning, Institutional Quality of Schooling, and Cross-national Mathematics Achievement." Education, Evaluation, and Policy Analysis 23 1, 1-17.
Baker, D., Riordan, C. and Schaub, M. "The Effects of Sex-grouped Schooling on Achievement: The Role of National Context." Comparative Education Review, 39, 4, 468-481, 1995.
Baker, D. and Jones, D. "Opportunity and Performance: A Sociological Explanation for Gender Differences in Academic Mathematics." In Education and Gender, Wrigley, J. (ed.) London: Falmer Press, 1992.
Created: 11/20/2012
Updated: 12/4/2012
Contributed By: Victoria Hayes, Lehigh University
