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Effects of class size on alternative educational outcomes across disciplines

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  • Cheng, Dorothy A.

Abstract

This is the first study to use self-reported ratings of student learning, instructor recommendations, and course recommendations as the outcome measure to estimate class size effects, doing so across 24 disciplines. Fixed-effects models controlling for heterogeneous courses and instructors reveal that increasing enrollment has negative and significant effects on student satisfaction in Sociology, Political Science, Computer Science and Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Educational outcomes in Linguistics, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Cognitive Sciences, Visual Arts, History, and Philosophy are unaffected by class size. Other disciplines, including Economics, have inconclusive findings. No discipline benefits from increasing enrollment.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Dorothy A., 2011. "Effects of class size on alternative educational outcomes across disciplines," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 980-990, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:30:y:2011:i:5:p:980-990
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    2. Alexei Karas, 2021. "The effect of class size on grades and course evaluations: Evidence from multisection courses," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(4), pages 624-642, October.
    3. Xuehan Zhou & Liping Ma & Shangcong Bu & Wei Ha, 2025. "Class Size and Student Academic and Behavioral Performance in College Synchronous Online Courses," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 66(3), pages 1-33, May.
    4. Emerson, Tisha L.N. & McGoldrick, KimMarie & Wagner, Jamie, 2023. "Decomposing a pre- post-test outcome to measure the effect of cooperative learning on student achievement," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Tisha L. N. Emerson & Linda K. English & KimMarie McGoldrick, 2018. "The High Costs of Large Enrollment Classes: Can Cooperative Learning Help?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 44(3), pages 455-474, June.

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