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Diagnosing the Learning Environment for Diverse Students in Introductory Economics: An Analysis of Relevance, Belonging, and Growth Mindsets

Author

Listed:
  • Amanda Bayer
  • Syon P. Bhanot
  • Erin T. Bronchetti
  • Stephen A. O'Connell

Abstract

Using administrative and survey data, we diagnose the learning environment in an introductory economics course. Relative to men from overrepresented groups, women and underrepresented minority students finish the course reporting significantly lower measures of relevance, belonging, and growth mindsets, factors related to college success. For example, they are less likely to agree that their professor used relatable examples, more likely to report feeling different than the typical economics major, and less likely to report believing they could learn the material. We also describe a new, low-cost initiative expanding the role of undergraduate teaching assistants to promote a more inclusive environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanda Bayer & Syon P. Bhanot & Erin T. Bronchetti & Stephen A. O'Connell, 2020. "Diagnosing the Learning Environment for Diverse Students in Introductory Economics: An Analysis of Relevance, Belonging, and Growth Mindsets," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 294-298, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:110:y:2020:p:294-98
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20201051
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bulaon, June Patrick & Shoji, Masahiro, 2022. "Disaster Exposure in Childhood and Adult Noncognitive Skill: Evidence from the Philippines," MPRA Paper 112913, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Erin Cottle Hunt, 2026. "Economics is What Economist Do: Exposing Principles of Economics Students to Economic Research and Researchers," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 11(1), pages 43-49, January.
    3. Larry Chavis & Laurel Wheeler, 2025. "Applying Indigenous Approaches to Economics Instruction," Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 57-73, March.
    4. Amel Ben Abdesslem & Julien Picault, 2023. "Bounty Hunters Can Teach Microeconomics: Illustrations from Netflix's Cowboy Bebop," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 49(3), pages 349-367, June.
    5. Depro, Brooks & Rouse, Kathryn, 2022. "Adapting the case method in an economics capstone research course," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    6. Wooten, Jadrian J. & Geerling, Wayne & Calma, Angelito, 2021. "Diversifying the use of pop culture in the classroom: Using K-pop to teach principles of economics," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    7. Kim, Soobin & Yun, John & Schneider, Barbara & Broda, Michael & Klager, Christopher & Chen, I-Chien, 2022. "The effects of growth mindset on college persistence and completion," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 219-235.
    8. Depro, Brooks, 2022. "Making introductory economics more relevant: Using personalized connections to introduce environmental economics," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    9. Amanda Bayer & Gary A. Hoover & Ebonya Washington, 2020. "How You Can Work to Increase the Presence and Improve the Experience of Black, Latinx, and Native American People in the Economics Profession," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 193-219, Summer.
    10. Murray, James M., 2025. "Scholar spotlights! A curricular intervention to enhance students’ perceptions of relevance and belonging in principles of macroeconomics," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    11. Sarah F. Small, 2023. "Infusing Diversity in a History of Economic Thought Course: An Archival Study of Syllabi and Resources for Redesign," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 49(3), pages 276-311, June.
    12. Gail M. Hoyt & Emily C. Marshall & Roisin O’Sullivan & Darshak Patel & Anthony Underwood, 2025. "How Should We Think About the Intermediate Microeconomics Course in Light of Recent Trends in the Economics Major?," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 284-294, October.
    13. Federico Araya & Pablo Blanchard & Juan Camilo Cárdenas & Elisa Failache & Ivone Perazzo, 2026. "Another way of teaching microeconomics: impact evaluation of the CORE project," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 93(371), pages 992-1035, July.
    14. Ben Abdesslem, Amel & Picault, Julien, 2023. "Using Netflix Original Series to teach economics: A diversity and inclusion approach," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    15. Teresa Perry, 2025. "Marx and the Big Mac: An Empirical Exploration of Marx’s Exploitation Theory for Introductory Economics Courses," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 57(3), pages 403-410, September.
    16. Gourley, Patrick, 2024. "Environmental economics in the wild: Using long-form journalism and other mass media in the classroom," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    17. Juliana Bernhofer & Luca Bonacini & Giuseppe Pignataro, 2025. "Nudging women towards pursuing their university careers," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 92(367), pages 883-919, July.
    18. Halliday, Simon D. & Makler, Christopher & McKee, Douglas & Papadopoulou, Anastasia, 2024. "Improving student comprehension through interactive model visualization," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    19. Todd Pugatch & Elizabeth Schroeder, 2024. "A simple nudge increases socioeconomic diversity in undergraduate Economics," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(1), pages 287-307, January.
    20. Birdi, Alvin & Cook, Steve & Elliott, Caroline & Lait, Ashley & Mehari, Tesfa & Wood, Max, 2023. "A critical review of recent economics pedagogy literature, 2020–2021," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    21. Antman, Francisca M. & Skoy, Evelyn & Kim, Paul, 2025. "Racial and Gendered Impacts of International Students on Domestic Peers," IZA Discussion Papers 18341, IZA Network @ LISER.
    22. Sarah Jacobson & Angelino Viceisza, 2025. "Inclusive Teaching in Intermediate Microeconomics: All Flowers, No Weeds in the Hardest Core Class," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 315-329, October.
    23. Amanda Bayer & Gregory Bruich & Raj Chetty & Andrew Housiaux, 2020. "Expanding and diversifying the pool of undergraduates who study economics: Insights from a new introductory course at Harvard," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(3-4), pages 364-379, September.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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