Grades, gender, and encouragement: A regression discontinuity analysis

Ann Owen

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This study employs a regression discontinuity design in order to provide direct evidence on the effects of grades earned in economics principles classes on the decision to major in economics and finds a differential effect for male and female students. Specifically, for female students, receiving an “A” for a final grade in the first economics class is associated with a meaningful increase in the probability of majoring in economics, even after controlling for the numerical grade earned in the class. This suggests that, for female students, the feedback that is embedded in the course letter grade has an encouragement effect on their decision to study economics further. It finds no evidence of a similar effect for male students.

Keywords: economics majors; grades; gender; regression discontinuity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A22 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Related works:
Journal Article: Grades, Gender, and Encouragement: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:11586

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