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Attribution Bias in Major Decisions: Evidence from the United States Military Academy

Author

Listed:
  • Haggag, Kareem

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Patterson, Richard

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Pope, Nolan G.

    (University of Maryland)

  • Feudo, Aaron

    (United States Military Academy)

Abstract
Using administrative data, we study the role of attribution bias in a high-stakes, consequential decision: the choice of a college major. Specifically, we examine the influence of fatigue experienced during exposure to a general education course on whether students choose the major corresponding to that course. To do so, we exploit the conditional random assignment of student course schedules at the United States Military Academy. We find that students who are assigned to an early morning (7:30 AM) section of a general education course are roughly 10% less likely to major in that subject, relative to students assigned to a later time slot for the course. We find similar effects for fatigue generated by having one or more back-to-back courses immediately prior to a general education course that starts later in the day. Finally, we demonstrate that the pattern of results is consistent with attribution bias and difficult to reconcile with competing explanations.

Suggested Citation

  • Haggag, Kareem & Patterson, Richard & Pope, Nolan G. & Feudo, Aaron, 2019. "Attribution Bias in Major Decisions: Evidence from the United States Military Academy," IZA Discussion Papers 12174, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12174
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    Cited by:

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    3. Gagnon-Bartsch, Tristan & Bushong, Benjamin, 2022. "Learning with misattribution of reference dependence," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    4. Mumford, Kevin J. & Patterson, Richard & Yim, Anthony, 2024. "College Course Shutouts," IZA Discussion Papers 16859, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Wang, Zhangping, 2023. "Do U.S. military bases impair the economic growth of the host countries?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1655-1665.
    6. Kofoed, Michael S. & Jones, Todd R., 2023. "First Generation College Students and Peer Effects," IZA Discussion Papers 16198, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Cappelen, Alexander & Liu, Yiming & Nielsen, Hedda & Tungodden, Bertil, 2024. "Fairness in a Society of Unequal Opportunities," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 17/2024, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    8. Alexander Cappelen & Yiming Liu & Hedda Nielsen & Bertil Tungodden, 2024. "Fairness in a Society of Unequal Opportunities," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 506, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    higher education; major choice; attribution bias;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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