Does the Closeness of Peers Matter? An Investigation Using Online Training Platform Data and Survey Data

Xin Gu (xin.gu@gatech.edu) and Haizheng Li
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Xin Gu: Georgia Institute of Technology

No 15964, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We study peer effects in online training participation using unique data from a large-scale online teacher training program. The platform data allow us to observe the accurate duration of attendance for every individual-lecture pair. We classify peer groups as close peers, local peers, and global peers based on their relationships. By controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, we find positive effects of close and local peer appearance on trainees' joining a lecture and on their length of stay in the lecture. However, global peers generate a negative but economically insignificant impact. Peer effects differ by group and increase with the relationship closeness. Using the survey data, we investigate the mechanisms of peer influences and find that social interactions facilitate online peer effects. Peer pressure and reputation concerns also help explain our findings. Our results shed new light on how peer effects can be utilized to improve the effectiveness of online learning.

Keywords: peer effects; online training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J24 M53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34 pages
Date: 2023-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma, nep-net, nep-pay and nep-ure
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