Field Experiments in Class Size from the Early Twentieth Century

Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 211-230, 2010

28 Pages Posted: 27 Oct 2011

See all articles by Jonah E. Rockoff

Jonah E. Rockoff

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Finance; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

In this essay, I provide an overview of the scope and breadth of the field experiments in class size conducted prior to World War II, the motivations behind them, and how their experimental designs were crafted to deal with perceived sources of bias. I conclude with a discussion of how one might interpret the findings of these early experimental results alongside more recent research, and how research on class size has shifted towards using instrumental variables rather than field experiments to address the class size issue empirically.

Suggested Citation

Rockoff, Jonah E., Field Experiments in Class Size from the Early Twentieth Century (2009). Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 211-230, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1949346

Jonah E. Rockoff (Contact Author)

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Finance ( email )

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New York, NY 10027
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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United States

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