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How Much is Students' College Performance Affected by Quantity of Study?

Author

Listed:
  • Hans Bonesrønning

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Leiv Opstad

    (Trondheim Business School)

Abstract

Recent educational reforms aim at improving school or college quality by improving students' study incentives. However, surprisingly little is known about the effects of study on grade performance. This paper seeks to fill some of the gap by combining survey and administrative data from one Norwegian business school. A differences-in-differences approach exploiting within-student variation in effort within the same subject across two time periods is used to generate credible evidence. We find that grades are improved when students put in more effort. The estimated effects are of considerable size, although smaller than those reported by Stinebrickner and Stinebrickner (2008).

Suggested Citation

  • Hans Bonesrønning & Leiv Opstad, 2012. "How Much is Students' College Performance Affected by Quantity of Study?," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 11(2), pages 46-63.
  • Handle: RePEc:che:ireepp:v:11:y:2012:i:2:p:46-63
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    File URL: https://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Ashley/Bonesronning%20and%20Opstad%2C%2011.2.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Stinebrickner Ralph & Stinebrickner Todd R., 2008. "The Causal Effect of Studying on Academic Performance," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 1-55, June.
    6. Petra E. Todd & Kenneth I. Wolpin, 2003. "On The Specification and Estimation of The Production Function for Cognitive Achievement," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(485), pages 3-33, February.
    7. Hanushek, Eric A, 1986. "The Economics of Schooling: Production and Efficiency in Public Schools," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 1141-1177, September.
    8. Daniel R. Marburger, 2006. "Does Mandatory Attendance Improve Student Performance?," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 148-155, April.
    9. Ralph Stinebrickner & Todd R. Stinebrickner, 2003. "Working during School and Academic Performance," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 21(2), pages 449-472, April.
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