Exam credits and exam performance in university economics courses − evidence from a regression discontinuity experiment. Issue 9 (20th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katare, Bhagyashree; Chen, Qihui; Wetzstein, Michael
• Is Part Of: Applied economics letters. Volume 27:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: 685
• Page End: 689
• Publication Date: 2020-05-20
• Subjects: Loss aversion -- regression discontinuity -- behavioral economics -- non-monetary incentives; A22 -- C93; Economics -- Periodicals; Economics, Mathematical -- Periodicals; 330
• DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2019.1644427
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4851

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We estimate effects of nonfinancial incentives, combined with the notion of 'loss aversion, ' on students' exam performance in two introductory economics courses. Our experiment awarded five points to students who scored below the median score on Midterm I as an incentive to improve their performance on Midterm II − these points would be lost if they failed to improve their performance. Regression discontinuity analysis indicates that this incentive improved male students' performance by 0.38 standard deviations on Midterm II.