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Can Positive Feedback Encourage Female and Minority Undergraduates into Economics?

Author

Listed:
  • Kelly Bedard
  • Jacqueline Dodd
  • Shelly Lundberg

Abstract

In a field experiment designed to encourage undergraduate women and underrepresented minority students to study economics, we send personalized letters to students completing introductory economics classes inviting them to an informational meeting. A random sample of high-achieving students receives letters that also praise their performance and encourage them to persist in economics. Receiving this "nudge" increases the probability of informational meeting attendance and increases the number of women entering the economics and accounting major and of men entering the economics major. There is a substantial increase in the number of treated Hispanic students, particularly women, who choose economics and accounting.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelly Bedard & Jacqueline Dodd & Shelly Lundberg, 2021. "Can Positive Feedback Encourage Female and Minority Undergraduates into Economics?," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 111, pages 128-132, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:111:y:2021:p:128-32
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20211025
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jansson, Joakim & Tyrefors, Björn, 2022. "Grading bias and the leaky pipeline in economics: Evidence from Stockholm University," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Grace Eau & Derek Hoodin & Tareena Musaddiq, 2022. "Testing the effects of adaptive learning courseware on student performance: An experimental approach," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1086-1118, January.
    3. Lovász, Anna & Bat-Erdene, Boldmaa & Cukrowska-Torzewska, Ewa & Rigó, Mariann & Szabó-Morvai, Ágnes, 2023. "Competition, subjective feedback, and gender gaps in performance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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