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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Teaching Methods: Do Classroom Experiments Improve Economic Education in High Schools?

Author

Listed:
  • Gerald Eisenkopf

    (Department of Economics, University of Konstanz, Germany)

  • Pascal Sulser

    (Department of Economics, University of Konstanz, Germany)

Abstract

We present results from a field experiments at Swiss high schools in which we compare the effectiveness of teaching methods in economics. We randomly assigned classes into an experimental and a conventional teaching group, or a control group that received no specific instruction. Both of our teaching treatments improve economic understanding considerably while effect sizes are almost identical. However, student ability crucially affects learning outcomes as more able students seem to benefit disproportionately from classroom experiments while weaker students lose out. Supplemental data indicates that our experimental treatment crowded out time for adequately discussing the subject, which may have limited less able students to generate a profound understanding. Furthermore there is no robust impact of economic training on social preferences, measured as both individual behavior in incentivized decisions or political opinions.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerald Eisenkopf & Pascal Sulser, 2013. "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Teaching Methods: Do Classroom Experiments Improve Economic Education in High Schools?," Working Paper Series of the Department of Economics, University of Konstanz 2013-17, Department of Economics, University of Konstanz.
    • Handle: RePEc:knz:dpteco:1317
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    2. Daniel M. Settlage & Jim R. Wollscheid, 2019. "The Invisible Hand in Action -- An Interactive Classroom Experience," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 4(1), pages 40-59, May.
    3. Igei, Kengo & Kurokawa, Hirofumi & Iseki, Masato & Kitsuki, Akinori & Kurita, Kenichi & Managi, Shunsuke & Nakamuro, Makiko & Sakano, Akira, 2024. "Synergistic effects of nudges and boosts in environmental education: Evidence from a field experiment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    4. Manuel Salas‐Velasco & Dolores Moreno‐Herrero & José Sánchez‐Campillo, 2021. "Teaching financial education in schools and students' financial literacy: A cross‐country analysis with PISA data," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 4077-4103, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A21 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Pre-college
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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