Understanding peer effects: on the nature, estimation and channels of peer effects

J.F. Feld and Ulf Zölitz

No 1, ROA Research Memorandum from Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)

Abstract: This paper estimates peer effects in a university context where students are randomly assigned to sections. While students benefit from better peers on average, lowachieving students are harmed by high-achieving peers. Analyzing students’ course evaluations suggests that peer effects are driven by improved group interaction rather than adjustments in teachers’ behavior or students’ effort. We further show, building on Angrist (2014), that classical measurement error in a setting where group assignment is systematic can lead to substantial overestimation of peer effects. With random assignment, as is the case in our setting, estimates are only attenuated.

Date: 2016-01-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ecm, nep-soc and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Understanding Peer Effects: On the Nature, Estimation, and Channels of Peer Effects (2017)
Working Paper: Understanding peer effects - On the nature, estimation and channels of peer effects (2016)
Working Paper: Understanding Peer Effects: On the Nature, Estimation and Channels of Peer Effects (2015)
Working Paper: Understanding Peer Effects: On the Nature, Estimation and Channels of Peer Effects (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unm:umaror:2016001

DOI: 10.26481/umaror.2016001

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