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Peer effects in computer assisted learning: evidence from a randomized experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2025

Marcel Fafchamps  and
Di Mo
Marcel Fafchamps
Affiliation:
Stanford University and NBER, Stanford, CA, USA
Di Mo*
Affiliation:
Stanford University and REAP, Stanford, CA, USA University of Leuven, LICOS, Leuven, Belgium
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

We conduct a large scale experiment to investigate peer effects in computer assisted learning (CAL). Identification relies on three levels of randomization. We find an average 0.17 standard deviation improvement in math scores among primary school students. This average effect is the same for students treated individually or in pairs, implying that peer effects double the learning benefit from a given equipment. Among paired students, poor performers benefit more from CAL when paired with good performers and vice versa. Average performers benefit equally irrespective of who they are paired with. This suggests that the treatment is dominated by knowledge exchange between peers. We also find that CAL treatment reduces the dispersion in math scores and that the beneficial effects of CAL can be strengthened if weak students are systematically paired with strong students.

Keywords

Peer effectsPairingMath performanceDispersion

JEL classification

B4: Economic Methodology I2: Education and Research Institutions
Type
Original Paper
Information
Experimental Economics , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 355 - 382
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 Economic Science Association

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