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Time-Use and Academic Peer Effects in College

Author

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  • Nirav Mehta

    (University of Western Ontario)

  • Todd Stinebrickner

    (Western University)

  • Ralph Stinebrickner

    (University of Western Ontario)

Abstract

This paper examines academic peer effects in college. Unique new data from the Berea Panel Study allow us to focus on a mechanism wherein a student's peers affect her achievement by changing her study effort. Although the potential relevance of this mechanism has been recognized, data limitations have made it difficult to provide direct evidence about its importance. We find that a student's freshman grade point average is affected by the amount her peers studied in high school, suggesting the importance of this mechanism. Using time diary information, we confirm that college study time is actually being affected.

Suggested Citation

  • Nirav Mehta & Todd Stinebrickner & Ralph Stinebrickner, 2018. "Time-Use and Academic Peer Effects in College," Working Papers 2018-082, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2018-082
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    File URL: http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/Mehta_Stinebrickner_Stinebrickner_2018_time-use-academic-peer-effects.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Eleonora Matteazzi & Martina Menon & Federico Perali, 2021. "Do Boys and Girls Perform Better at Math Just Studying More ?," CHILD Working Papers Series 96 JEL Classification: I2, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    2. Frijters, Paul & Islam, Asad & Pakrashi, Debayan, 2019. "Heterogeneity in peer effects in random dormitory assignment in a developing country," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 117-134.
    3. Fang, Guanfu & Wan, Shan, 2020. "Peer effects among graduate students: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    4. Lépine, Andrea & Estevan, Fernanda, 2021. "Do ability peer effects matter for academic and labor market outcomes?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Farzin Mumtahena & Kaustav Sen & Mahnoor Imran Sayyed & Pasan Wijayawardhana & Roya Zafari & Shrijya Kafle, 2023. "Learning Losses of Undergraduate Students in South Asia during COVID‐19 and its Determinants," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 42(4), pages 366-394, December.
    6. Alexandra de Gendre & Nicolás Salamanca, 2020. "On the Mechanisms of Ability Peer Effects," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2020n19, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    peer effects; time use; higher education; mechanisms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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