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The impact of class absenteeism on undergraduates’ academic performance: evidence from an elite Economics school in Portugal

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  • Aurora A.C. Teixeira

    () (CEF.UP, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto; INESC Porto; OBEGEF; UTEN)

Abstract

The empirical literature focusing mainly on the USA suggests that class absenteeism undermines students’ academic performance and that an enforced mandatory attendance policy may be beneficial. Based on a different cultural and economic context, and using data on 146 second-year management students enrolled in a Macroeconomics course at an elite economics school in Portugal, it is shown that even when controlling for potential endogenous factors associated to attendance and academic performance, absenteeism considerably lowers the students’ final grade (about 2 points in a 0-20 point grading scheme). In addition, it is established that a compulsory, though flexible, attendance policy contributes to improving students’ academic performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurora A.C. Teixeira, 2013. "The impact of class absenteeism on undergraduates’ academic performance: evidence from an elite Economics school in Portugal," FEP Working Papers 503, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    • Handle: RePEc:por:fepwps:503
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    File URL: http://www.fep.up.pt/investigacao/workingpapers/wp503.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nuno Alves & Mário Centeno & Álvaro A. Novo, 2010. "Investment in Education in Portugal: Returns and Heterogeneity," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    2. Daniel R. Marburger, 2001. "Absenteeism and Undergraduate Exam Performance," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 99-109, January.
    3. Xavier Triadó-Ivern & Pilar Aparicio-Chueca & Joan Guàrdia-Olmos & Maribel Peró-Cebollero & Natalia Jaría-Chacón, 2013. "Empirical approach to the analysis of university student absenteeism: proposal of a questionnaire for students to evaluate the possible causes," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 2281-2288, June.
    4. David Romer, 1993. "Do Students Go to Class? Should They?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 7(3), pages 167-174, Summer.
    5. Sharmistha Self, 2012. "Studying Absenteeism in Principles of Macroeconomics: Do Attendance Policies Make a Difference?," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 223-234, July.
    6. Jennjou Chen & Tsui-Fang Lin, 2008. "Class Attendance and Exam Performance: A Randomized Experiment," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(3), pages 213-227, July.
    7. Stephen Devadoss & John Foltz, 1996. "Evaluation of Factors Influencing Student Class Attendance and Performance," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 78(3), pages 499-507.
    8. Daniel R. Marburger, 2006. "Does Mandatory Attendance Improve Student Performance?," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 148-155, April.
    9. Schmidt, Robert M, 1983. "Who Maximizes What? A Study in Student Time Allocation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 73(2), pages 23-28, May.
    10. Astrid Schmulian & Stephen Coetzee, 2011. "Class absenteeism: reasons for non-attendance and the effect on academic performance," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 24(2), pages 178-194, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Absenteeism; Academic performance; Economics; Management; University; Portugal;

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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