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Invalid Methods and False Answers: Physics Education Research and the Use of GREs

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  • Michael B. Weissman

Abstract

Finding good educational policies requires sound estimates of their potential effects. Methods for making such estimates, i.e., finding causal estimands, have made great progress in the last few decades. Nevertheless, serious errors in causal reasoning have been found previously in papers in a leading physics education journal, Physical Review Physics Education Research. Here I examine three papers from that journal that present explicit methods of causal inference. The methods offered involve major errors, including errors in identifying causal mediation, choosing variables to control for, and imputing missing data. The erroneous methods lead to major underestimation of the predictive power of Graduate Record Exams.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael B. Weissman, 2022. "Invalid Methods and False Answers: Physics Education Research and the Use of GREs," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 19(1), pages 1-4–29, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ejw:journl:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:4-29
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Keele, Luke, 2015. "The Statistics of Causal Inference: A View from Political Methodology," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 313-335, July.
    2. Casey Miller & Keivan Stassun, 2014. "A test that fails," Nature, Nature, vol. 510(7504), pages 303-304, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Causal inference; GRE; physics education research; education; statistics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A2 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology
    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education

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