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Apart but Connected: Online Tutoring, Cognitive Outcomes, and Soft Skills

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  • Michela Carlana
  • Eliana La Ferrara

Abstract

We study the Tutoring Online Program (TOP), where tutoring is entirely online and tutors are volunteer university students matched with underprivileged middle school students. We leverage random assignment to estimate effects during and after the pandemic (2020 and 2022), investigating channels of impact. Three hours of individual tutoring per week increased math performance by 0.22 SD in 2020 and 0.20 SD in 2022. Higher dosage yielded stronger effects, while group tutoring smaller effects. TOP enhanced students' aspirations, socioemotional skills, and psychological well-being, but only during school closures. We also estimate the impact of TOP on tutors, finding an increase in empathy.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Carlana & Eliana La Ferrara, 2025. "Apart but Connected: Online Tutoring, Cognitive Outcomes, and Soft Skills," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 115(10), pages 3487-3513, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:115:y:2025:i:10:p:3487-3513
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20240401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Belloni & D. Chen & V. Chernozhukov & C. Hansen, 2012. "Sparse Models and Methods for Optimal Instruments With an Application to Eminent Domain," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(6), pages 2369-2429, November.
    2. Michela Carlana, 2019. "Implicit Stereotypes: Evidence from Teachers’ Gender Bias," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(3), pages 1163-1224.
    3. Stefan Wager & Susan Athey, 2018. "Estimation and Inference of Heterogeneous Treatment Effects using Random Forests," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 113(523), pages 1228-1242, July.
    4. Victor Chernozhukov & Mert Demirer & Esther Duflo & Iván Fernández-Val, 2018. "Generic Machine Learning Inference on Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in Randomized Experiments, with an Application to Immunization in India," NBER Working Papers 24678, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Michela Carlana & Eliana La Ferrara & Paolo Pinotti, 2022. "Reply to: Comments on “Goals and Gaps: Educational Careers of Immigrant Children”," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(1), pages 43-46, January.
    6. Michela Carlana & Eliana La Ferrara & Paolo Pinotti, 2022. "Goals and Gaps: Educational Careers of Immigrant Children," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(1), pages 1-29, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ásgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey & Francesconi, Marco & Johannsdottir, Ásthildur M. & Zoega, Gylfi, 2025. "How Home Exams and Peers Affect College Grades in Unprecedented Times," IZA Discussion Papers 18344, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Rohen Shah, 2026. "The Trade-off between Quality and Quantity: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Tutoring," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2493, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    3. Stephanie G. Coffey & Joshua Goodman & Amy Ellen Schwartz & Leanna Stiefel & Marcus A. Winters & Yunee H. Yoon, 2026. "Special Education Substantially Improves Learning: Evidence from Three States," NBER Working Papers 34998, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Giacomo Anastasia & Tito Boeri & Oleksandr Zholud, 2026. "A wartime labor market: the case of Ukraine," CEP Discussion Papers dp2142, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. Pietro Biroli & Amalia Di Girolamo & Giuseppe Sorrenti & Maddalena Totarelli, 2025. "Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Is Not: Online Role Model Mentoring and Students’ Aspirations," CESifo Working Paper Series 12342, CESifo.
    6. Kjetil Bjorvatn & Selim Gulesci & Arne Nasgowitz & Vincent Somville & Lore Vandewalle, 2025. "Promoting parental engagement in education: Experimental evidence from Uganda," Trinity Economics Papers tep1925, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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