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Abstract: The evaluation of the students’ educational performance at the global level is representing a key tool in understanding the factors that influence learning and academic success. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) surveys, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), provide a standardized measure of students’ abilities in mathematics, reading and science, and are widely used to analyse education systems in various countries. However, educational performance is not determined solely by individual factors, but also by a complex interaction between school, social, and economic conditions. In this context, the analysis of student academic performance must be implemented beyond the simple assessment of the academic achievements, integrating a holistic approach that takes into account the external and internal factors that influence learning. This paper proposes an innovative approach to educational performance, using the SOR (Stimulus-Organism-Response) model, a conceptual framework that describes the manner in which external stimuli drive the emotional state of the organism (student), which, in turn, is determining the behavioural responses (measured through academic performance). Using data retrieved from the PISA 2022 survey database, at the level of Romania, the application of the SOR model employing the advanced econometric techniques of SEM (Structural Equation Modeling), allows for a detailed analysis of the complex relationships between socio-economic factors, school environment, family support and academic performance at the students’ level. The study also addresses the current educational context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought major challenges regarding the access to educational resources, learning styles and, implicitly, students’ results. Through this approach, the paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of how external and internal factors interact to shape educational performance. The results obtained can serve as recommendations to formulate more effective educational policies, capable of responding to multiple global challenges and supporting students in reaching their maximum potential.
Keywords: PISA, SEM, SOR approach, COVID-19 pandemic, education, socio-economic factors
