ERIC Number: ED616788
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Nov
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Simple Nudge Increases Socioeconomic Diversity in Undergraduate Economics. EdWorkingPaper No. 21-485
Pugatch, Todd; Schroeder, Elizabeth
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
We assess whether a light-touch intervention can increase socioeconomic and racial diversity in undergraduate Economics. We randomly assigned over 2,200 students a message with basic information about the Economics major; the basic message combined with an emphasis on the rewarding careers or financial returns associated with the major; or no message. Messages increased the proportion of first generation or underrepresented minority (URM) students majoring in Economics by five percentage points. This effect size was sufficient to reverse the gap in Economics majors between first generation/URM students and students not in these groups. Effect sizes were larger and more precise for better-performing students and first generation students. Extrapolating to the full sample, the treatment would double the proportion of first generation and underrepresented minority students majoring in Economics.
Descriptors: Student Diversity, Undergraduate Students, Economics Education, Intervention, Majors (Students), First Generation College Students, Minority Group Students, Program Effectiveness
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: AISR_Info@brown.edu; Web site: http://www.annenberginstitute.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Oregon State University (OSU)
Authoring Institution: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Identifiers - Location: Oregon
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A