Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Vito_The_Magnificent t1_j1znayr wrote

They took advantage of the fact that schools are set up with enrollments cutoffs. So kids of the same age will have different amounts of schooling.

Say the enrollment cutoff is turning 5 before September 1st.

A kid born August 30 will have 10 months of schooling on their 6th birthday.

A kid born September 2nd will have 1 day of schooling on their 6th birthday.

Test them both on their 6th birthday, and all else being equal, the difference is the effect of 10 months of schooling.

56

lumberjack_jeff t1_j1zrlzf wrote

Well then yes. It stands to reason that a fourth grader will do better on most any test than a third grader.

Is that what they're studying?

12

Vito_The_Magnificent t1_j1zvmdm wrote

No, they were studying if kids from rich families get more out of education than kids from poor families and if kids who are genetically predisposed to be smarter than average get more from schooling than kids who are predisposed to be dummer than average.

But to do that you have to seprate the effects of age from the effects of spending time in school.

20

Sixial t1_j1zwn02 wrote

Are there any comparisons of how they tested at the end of that grade?

The younger may have the ability to learn more, but the older may have ability to mature and focus more.

9