Purpose - The quality of an education system or a comparative international assessment refers more and more to quantitative parameters, i.e. "educational indicators". The paper aims to analyse the structure of several educational indicators and indicator systems and answer the question "What can educational indicators achieve?" Design/methodology/approach - Starting with a general consideration of the term "indicator" the findings are applied to the educational area and the development of educational indicators is analysed critically. Findings - Indicators allow for the illustration of outcomes and of system processes. Beginning in the 1950s, following the empirical turn in research methods, and the growing significance of approaches from economics of education, indicators are now applied in national and international settings. The findings show that the combination of the quantitative and qualitative approach is more successful as the isolated research. Research limitations/implications - The research is based on secondary analysis. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodology should be undertaken in following the progress of educational systems. Originality/value - The findings of quantitative research based on educational indicators determine the general public and political discussion and often the discourse in the scientific community. The analysis shows that a critical distance especially when preparing political decisions is a necessary attitude. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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