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Providing performance information in education: An experimental evaluation in Colombia

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  • Barrera-Osorio, Felipe
  • Gonzalez, Kathryn
  • Lagos, Francisco
  • Deming, David J.

Abstract

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of an information intervention to evaluate the effects of providing information to families on their children's reading and math achievement in a mid-size city in Colombia. Most families are poorly informed about their children's performance, but our information intervention closes the gap between beliefs and performance and induces some behavioral response among parents in the treatment group. We find positive impacts on student achievement of 0.09 SD to 0.10 SD in the first two semesters after treatment, followed by fadeout in year two. This overall pattern is driven by large gains—around 0.28 SD—and then similarly complete fadeout for students with low baseline test scores.

Suggested Citation

  • Barrera-Osorio, Felipe & Gonzalez, Kathryn & Lagos, Francisco & Deming, David J., 2020. "Providing performance information in education: An experimental evaluation in Colombia," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:186:y:2020:i:c:s0047272720300499
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104185
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dinkelman, Taryn & Berlinski, Samuel & Busso, Matias & Martinez A., Claudia, 2021. "Reducing Parent-School Information Gaps and Improving Education Outcomes: Evidence from High-Frequency Text Messages," CEPR Discussion Papers 15949, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Carlos Esteban Posada Posada, 2021. "Could the Colombian economy grow faster? How it would be possible?," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 19683, Universidad EAFIT.
    4. Felipe Barrera-Osorio & Paul Gertler & Nozomi Nakajima & Harry Patrinos, 2020. "Promoting Parental Involvement in Schools: Evidence From Two Randomized Experiments," NBER Working Papers 28040, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Carneiro, Pedro & Cruz Aguayo, Yyannu & Salvati, Francesca & Schady, Norbert, 2023. "The Effect of Classroom Rank on Learning throughout Elementary School: Experimental Evidence from Ecuador," IZA Discussion Papers 16384, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Nicoletti, Cheti & Sevilla, Almudena & Tonei, Valentina, 2022. "Gender stereotypes in the family," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118044, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Gómez, Maria Fernanda & González-Velosa, Carolina, 2023. "Can a Pay-for- Performance Program Help the Vulnerable find Jobs during a Pandemic?: Experimental Evidence from Empleate in Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12982, Inter-American Development Bank.
    8. Bach, Maximilian & Fischer, Mira, 2020. "Understanding the response to high-stakes incentives in primary education," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-066, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    9. Minahil Asim & Ronak Jain & Vatsal Khandelwal, 2024. "Great expectations? Experimental evidence from schools in Pakistan," ECON - Working Papers 454, Department of Economics - University of Zurich.
    10. Wang, Haining & Cheng, Zhiming & Smyth, Russell, 2022. "Parental misbeliefs and household investment in children's education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Gaduh,Arya Budhiastra & Pradhan,Menno Prasad & Priebe,Jan & Susanti,Dewi, 2021. "Scores, Camera, Action : Social Accountability and Teacher Incentives in Remote Areas," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9748, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Randomization; Information; Parents' beliefs; Quality of education; Colombia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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