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The Effect of Gender on Study Effort: Nudges Versus Market Incentives

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  • Jens Schubert

Abstract

In an educational field experiment, I study the role of peers’ study habits (a social norm nudge) and for-credit assignments (a market incentive) on student study effort and learning outcomes. I randomize students in a large-enrollment introductory economics course into one of four treatments: for-credit practice problems only, information about successful peers’ study habits only, for-credit practice problems paired with peer information, and control. The 2x2 experimental design allows me to assess whether peer information and for-credit incentives act as complements or substitutes. I find that for-credit alone works significantly better than peer information alone to improve study effort. Interestingly, peer information works better for men than women. The interaction of the study incentives works best to improve study effort for women. The findings of this study inform micro-targeted educational choice architecture which could help narrow gender performance disparities in economics courses. JEL Classification: C93, I24, J16, D84, A22

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Schubert, 2023. "The Effect of Gender on Study Effort: Nudges Versus Market Incentives," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 68(1), pages 24-44, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:68:y:2023:i:1:p:24-44
    DOI: 10.1177/05694345221095451
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economics education; experiment; gender; social norms; nudges;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate

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