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Equity in hybrid microeconomics classes: Effects on diverse student groups

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  • Adkins, Savannah

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic created a sudden increased uptake of online teaching, and though the end of the pandemic signaled a shift back to more in-person learning, many schools have used the existing infrastructure to expand their offerings of online and hybrid courses. While previous studies have identified the impact of online teaching on student score, little work has been done on the heterogenous impact that online and hybrid teaching can have, particularly for underrepresented groups of students. I utilize a randomized control trial in an introductory microeconomics course to test whether there are any differences in quiz score with a lecture delivered online as compared to in-person, mimicking a hybrid class environment. I find that when students watch a lecture online, they score 5 percentage points lower on average than attending a lecture in-person. This estimate is based on an intent-to-treat study design and estimates within-individual effects. I also assess heterogeneous effects across various demographic variables, including gender, race, and First-Generation status, and find that this result is particularly salient for non-White and first-generation students, highlighting the equity implications of moving to online teaching.

Suggested Citation

  • Adkins, Savannah, 2024. "Equity in hybrid microeconomics classes: Effects on diverse student groups," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ireced:v:47:y:2024:i:c:s1477388024000227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2024.100304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Online teaching; Hybrid teaching; Equity; First-generation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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