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The Impact of Test Score Labels on Human-Capital Investment Decisions

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  • John P. Papay
  • Richard J. Murnane
  • John B. Willett

Abstract

Students receive abundant information about their educational performance, but how this information affects future educational-investment decisions is not well understood. Increasingly, results from state-mandated standardized tests are an important source of information. Students receive a score and a label that summarizes their performance on these tests. Using a regression-discontinuity design, we find persistent effects of earning a more positive label on the college-going decisions of urban, low-income students. These findings are important not only for understanding students’ educational-investment decisions and the consequences of state testing practices but also for researchers using the regression-discontinuity design.

Suggested Citation

  • John P. Papay & Richard J. Murnane & John B. Willett, 2016. "The Impact of Test Score Labels on Human-Capital Investment Decisions," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 51(2), pages 357-388.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:51:y:2016:i:2:p:357-388
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.51.2.0713-5837R
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    Cited by:

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    2. Avery, Christopher & Goodman, Joshua, 2022. "Ability signals and rigorous coursework: Evidence from AP Calculus participation," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    3. Cory Koedel & Jiaxi Li & Matthew G. Springer & Li Tan, 2018. "Teacher Performance Ratings and Professional Improvement," Working Papers 1808, Department of Economics, University of Missouri.
    4. Pedro Luis Silva & Carla Sá & Ricardo Biscaia & Pedro N. Teixeira, 2022. "High school and exam scores: Does their predictive validity for academic performance vary with programme selectivity?," NIPE Working Papers 4/2022, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    5. Pedro Luis Silva, 2024. "Specialists or All-Rounders: How Best to Select University Students?," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(2), pages 227-271.
    6. Schwerdt, Guido & West, Martin R. & Winters, Marcus A., 2017. "The effects of test-based retention on student outcomes over time: Regression discontinuity evidence from Florida," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 154-169.
    7. Christopher Avery & Oded Gurantz & Michael Hurwitz & Jonathan Smith, 2018. "Shifting College Majors in Response to Advanced Placement Exam Scores," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 53(4), pages 918-956.
    8. Beuchert, Louise & Eriksen, Tine Louise Mundbjerg & Krægpøth, Morten Visby, 2020. "The impact of standardized test feedback in math: Exploiting a natural experiment in 3rd grade," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    9. Feng, Qiang & Wang, Xiaojun, 2018. "The psychological effects of academic labeling: The case of class tracks," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 568-581.
    10. Ulrik Hvidman & Hans Henrik Sievertsen, 2021. "High-Stakes Grades and Student Behavior," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(3), pages 821-849.
    11. Meyer, Andrew G. & Hanson, Andrew R. & Hickman, Daniel C., 2017. "Perceptions of institutional quality: Evidence of limited attention to higher education rankings," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 241-258.
    12. J. R. Lockwood & Daniel F. McCaffrey, 2019. "Impact Evaluation Using Analysis of Covariance With Error-Prone Covariates That Violate Surrogacy," Evaluation Review, , vol. 43(6), pages 335-369, December.
    13. J. R. Lockwood & D. McCaffrey, 2020. "Using hidden information and performance level boundaries to study student–teacher assignments: implications for estimating teacher causal effects," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 183(4), pages 1333-1362, October.
    14. Andrew McEachin & Thurston Domina & Andrew Penner, 2020. "Heterogeneous Effects of Early Algebra across California Middle Schools," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(3), pages 772-800, June.
    15. MUSTAFA, Murtala Oladimeji Abioye & STELLA, Uwazuluonye Audu, 2023. "The Nexus between Human Capital Investment and Firm Growth of Selected Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(8), pages 467-481, August.
    16. Cory Koedel & Jiaxi Li & Matthew G. Springer & Li Tan, 2016. "The Impact of Performance Ratings on Job Satisfaction for Public School Teachers," Working Papers 1617, Department of Economics, University of Missouri.

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