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The Effect of Priming Student Identity on IQ-Test Score: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial

Author

Listed:
  • Patrizia Ordine

    (University of Calabria)

  • Giuseppe Rose

    (University of Calabria)

  • Andrea Mosca

    (University of Calabria)

Abstract

This work evaluates whether by rendering more salient to students their own student identity it is possible to increase their effort and performance in an IQ-test. The idea is based on the assumption that individuals’ behavior is often influenced by cues that work subconsciously and prime them to behave in certain ways. By implementing a randomized control trial on students of two universities in two European countries—namely the University of Essex (UK) and the University of Calabria (Italy)—we report that students primed with pictures and videos targeted to render their student identity more salient obtain higher IQ-test scores than students exposed to neutral pictures/videos.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrizia Ordine & Giuseppe Rose & Andrea Mosca, 2024. "The Effect of Priming Student Identity on IQ-Test Score: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 10(2), pages 733-759, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:italej:v:10:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s40797-023-00231-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s40797-023-00231-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Identity priming; Student identity; IQ-test score; Randomized control trials;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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