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Am I Missing Something? The Effects of Absence from Class on Student Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Arulampalam, Wiji

    (University of Warwick)

  • Naylor, Robin

    (University of Warwick)

  • Smith, Jeremy

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract
We exploit a rich administrative panel data-set for cohorts of Economics students at a UK university in order to identify causal effects of class absence on student performance. We utilise the panel properties of the data to control for unobserved heterogeneity across students and hence for endogeneity between absence and academic performance of students stemming from the likely influence of unobserved effort and ability on both absence and performance. Our estimations also exploit features of the data such as the random assignment of students to classes and information on the timetable of classes, which yield potential instruments in our identification strategy. Among other results, we find that there is a causal effect of absence on performance for students: missing class leads to poorer performance. There is evidence from a quantile regression specification that this is particularly true for better-performing students, consistent with our hypothesis that effects of absence on performance are likely to vary with factors such as student ability.

Suggested Citation

  • Arulampalam, Wiji & Naylor, Robin & Smith, Jeremy, 2008. "Am I Missing Something? The Effects of Absence from Class on Student Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 3749, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3749
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Aucejo, Esteban M. & Romano, Teresa Foy, 2016. "Assessing the effect of school days and absences on test score performance," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 70-87.
    2. repec:lan:wpaper:3335 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Cuffe, Harold E. & Waddell, Glen R. & Bignell, Wesley, 2014. "Too Busy for School? The Effect of Athletic Participation on Absenteeism," IZA Discussion Papers 8426, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Schwerter, Jakob & Netz, Nicolai & Hübner, Nicolas, 2024. "Does instructional time at school influence study time at university? Evidence from an instructional time reform," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    5. Delaney, Liam & Harmon, Colm & Ryan, Martin, 2013. "The role of noncognitive traits in undergraduate study behaviours," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 181-195.
    6. Alexei G. Orlov & John Roufagalas, 2012. "Performance Determinants in Undergraduate Economics Classes: The Effect of Cognitive Reflection," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 11(2), pages 28-45.
    7. Liu, Jing & Lee, Monica & Gershenson, Seth, 2019. "The Short- and Long-Run Impacts of Secondary School Absences," IZA Discussion Papers 12613, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Alessia Matano & Paolo Naticchioni, 2009. "Wage distribution and the spatial sorting of workers and firms," Working Papers - Dipartimento di Economia 8-DEISFOL, Dipartimento di Economia, Sapienza University of Rome, revised 2009.
    9. Ma, Liping & Ha, Wei & Cao, Yulian, 2024. "College peer effects on learning behaviors in synchronous online courses," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    10. Ha, Wei & Ma, Liping & Cao, Yulian & Feng, Qinxue & Bu, Shangcong, 2024. "The effects of class attendance on academic performance: Evidence from synchronous courses during Covid-19 at a Chinese research university," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    11. Brownback, Andy, 2018. "A classroom experiment on effort allocation under relative grading," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 113-128.
    12. Chang Da Wan & Roland K. Cheo, 2012. "Determinants of Malaysian and Singaporean Economics Undergraduates' Academic Performance," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 11(2), pages 7-27.
    13. Middleditch, Paul & Moindrot, Will & Rudkin, Simon, 2022. "Teaching with Twitter: An extension to the traditional learning environment," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    14. Tobias Wolbring, 2012. "Class Attendance and Students’ Evaluations of Teaching," Evaluation Review, , vol. 36(1), pages 72-96, February.
    15. Evans, David K. & Mendez Acosta, Amina, 2023. "How to measure student absenteeism in low- and middle-income countries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    16. repec:lan:wpaper:3056 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; panel data; selection correction; quantile regression; class absence; randomised experiments; student performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education

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