A decade of educational research with the German National Educational Panel Study: A systematic review

Educational large-scale assessments (LSAs) are indispensable for empirical research on educational systems and academic achievement. The German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) stands out among LSAs due to its unique longitudinal, multi-cohort design embedded within a multilevel assessment context. By following six distinct cohorts from early childhood through adulthood, the NEPS enables analyses of educational processes and competence development across the entire life course. Despite its extensive use over the past decade, little is known about the scope and scholarly impact of studies analyzing NEPS data. This systematic review of 625 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2013 and 2024 assessed the academic use, thematic focus, and contribution to international educational research of studies based on NEPS data. The findings revealed a NEPS-related research output that is comparable to major international LSAs. Studies with NEPS data contributed high-impact articles across psychology, education, and sociology, addressing topics such as early cognitive development, educational inequalities, personality and motivation, and school-to-work transitions. Additionally, the dataset has informed research on higher education, adult learning, and career development. Still, the review identified several underexplored areas that underscore the continued potential of the NEPS as a popular data source for longitudinal and contextualized educational research. • •Educational large-scale assessments (LSAs) increasingly inform educational research. • •The National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) is a national LSA in Germany. • •The NEPS contributed high-impact articles in psychology, education, and sociology. • •Research addressed topics from early cognitive development to adult learning. • •Open research opportunities pertain to STEM abilities and adult literacy.