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Does peer ability affect student achievement?

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Author Info

  • Jacob M. Markman

    (Department of Economics, Converse Hall, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA)

  • Eric A. Hanushek

    (Stanford University, National Bureau of Economic Research and University of Texas at Dallas. Hoover Institution, 434 Galvez Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-6010, USA)

  • John F. Kain

    (University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA (Deceased))

  • Steven G. Rivkin

    (Amherst College, National Bureau of Economic Research and University of Texas at Dallas. Department of Economics, Converse Hall, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA)

Abstract

Empirical analysis of peer effects on student achievement has been open to question because of the difficulties of separating peer effects from other confounding influences. While most econometric attention has been directed at issues of simultaneous determination of peer interactions, we argue that issues of omitted and mismeasured variables are likely to be more important. We control for the most important determinants of achievement that will confound peer estimates by removing student and school-by-grade fixed effects in addition to observable family and school characteristics. The analysis also addresses the reciprocal nature of peer interactions and the interpretation of estimates based upon models using past achievement as the measure of peer group quality. The results indicate that peer achievement has a positive effect on achievement growth. Moreover, students throughout the school test score distribution appear to benefit from higher achieving schoolmates. On the other hand, the variance in achievement appears to have no systematic effect. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Bibliographic Info

Article provided by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. in its journal Journal of Applied Econometrics.

Volume (Year): 18 (2003)
Issue (Month): 5 ()
Pages: 527-544

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Handle: RePEc:jae:japmet:v:18:y:2003:i:5:p:527-544

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  2. Eric A. Hanushek & John F. Kain & Steven G. Rivkin, 2001. "Disruption versus Tiebout Improvement: The Costs and Benefits of Switching Schools," NBER Working Papers 8479, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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