Do Single-Sex Classes Affect Achievement? An Experiment in a Coeducational University

31 Pages Posted: 17 Nov 2014

See all articles by Alison L. Booth

Alison L. Booth

Australian National University (ANU) - Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Lina Cardona

University of Essex

Patrick J. Nolen

University of Essex; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: October 2014

Abstract

We examine the effect of single-sex classes on the pass rates, grades, and continued enrollment of students in a coeducational university. We randomly assign students to all-female, all-male, and coed classes and, therefore, get around the selection issues present in studies on single-sex education done on students in primary and secondary school. We find that one hour a week of single-sex education benefits females: females are 7.5% more likely to pass their first year courses and score 8% higher overall. Furthermore, females in all-females classes are roughly 9% more likely to continue studying economics and business at university than females who studied in coed classes. There is evidence that single-sex education causes women to adopt behaviors associated with better academic outcomes: such as attending more classes and doing optional assignments. However, these behavioral changes can explain, at most 40% of the all-female effect, suggesting that there is a large direct effect of single-sex education on outcomes.

Keywords: single-sex, education, experiment, gender

JEL Classification: C91, C92, J16, J33

Suggested Citation

Booth, Alison L. and Cardona, Lina and Nolen, Patrick J., Do Single-Sex Classes Affect Achievement? An Experiment in a Coeducational University (October 2014). CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP10221, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2526349

Alison L. Booth (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia
+61 2 6125 3285 (Phone)
+61 2 6125 0182 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Lina Cardona

University of Essex

Wivenhoe Park
Colchester, CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

Patrick J. Nolen

University of Essex ( email )

Wivenhoe Park
Colchester, CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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