Expectations about the productivity of effort and academic outcomes: evidence from a randomized information intervention

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

June 1, 2026

Summary:

We implement a randomized information intervention to enhance beliefs about the productivity of effort on a cohort of undergraduate students at a UK university. The intervention increases first-year exam grades and GPA, with an intention-to-treat effect of 0.10 of a standard deviation. The effects are larger for men, reducing the gender gap in academic achievement by a third. The data allow us to examine the mechanisms linking the intervention to outcomes, through changes in beliefs and academic inputs, as well as its longer-term effects. We replicate the main results at another UK university, highlighting the external validity of our findings.

Published in

Journal of Human Resources

ISSN

22166

Subjects

Link

- https://repository.essex.ac.uk/43186/

Notes

In Press

#589044

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest