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Student Feedback, Parent-Teacher Communication, and Academic Performance: Experimental Evidence from Rural China

Author

Listed:
  • Siebert, W. Stanley

    (University of Birmingham)

  • Wei, Xiangdong

    (Lingnan University)

  • Wong, Ho Lun

    (Lingnan University)

  • Zhou, Xiang

    (University of Birmingham)

Abstract

This study reports a randomized controlled trial to improve teacher-student-parent feedback, conducted in a rural county in China with many left-behind children. Data are collected from over 4,000 primary schoolchildren (8 to 10 years old) over two school terms. We find that bi-weekly student feedbacks using our special scorecard of schoolwork and behavior improve mathematics results by 0.16 to 0.20 standard deviations, with 0.09 for language. Communicating these assessments also to parents produces further large mathematics benefits for young left-behind children, about 0.30 standard deviations. A low-cost investment in better feedback thus brings significant achievement gains especially for disadvantaged children.

Suggested Citation

  • Siebert, W. Stanley & Wei, Xiangdong & Wong, Ho Lun & Zhou, Xiang, 2018. "Student Feedback, Parent-Teacher Communication, and Academic Performance: Experimental Evidence from Rural China," IZA Discussion Papers 11347, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11347
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Noam Angrist & Peter Bergman & Moitshepi Matsheng, 2020. "School’s Out: Experimental Evidence on Limiting Learning Loss Using “Low-Tech” in a Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 28205, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Long, Wenjin & Pang, Xiaopeng & Dong, Xiao-yuan & Zeng, Junxia, 2020. "Is rented accommodation a good choice for primary school students' academic performance? – Evidence from rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    3. Noam Angrist & Peter Bergman & Moitshepi Matsheng, 2022. "Experimental evidence on learning using low-tech when school is out," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(7), pages 941-950, July.
    4. Farzin Mumtahena & Kaustav Sen & Mahnoor Imran Sayyed & Pasan Wijayawardhana & Roya Zafari & Shrijya Kafle, 2023. "Learning Losses of Undergraduate Students in South Asia during COVID‐19 and its Determinants," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 42(4), pages 366-394, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    student assessment; parent-teacher communication; academic performance; randomized controlled trial; rural China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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