The Impact of Schooling on Student's Creativity: A Cross-National Study

• In Event: AERA Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Invited Roundtable: Understanding Student Motivation, Creativity, and Ability across National Education Contexts (Table 2)

Abstract

The ongoing empirical debate on whether schools foster student's creativity can be further enhanced by using the analytical framework of a systems model of creativity, which integrates individual, school, and social-cultural factors in determining creativity. Using PISA 2022 data, this research investigates the causal effect of schooling on creativity across different nations. Using regression discontinuity design utilizing school entry policies as exogenous variation in grade levels, I hypothesize that the impact of an additional year of schooling on creativity varies systematically with institutional and cultural contexts. Initial analyses reveal heterogeneous effects across nations, with developed countries showing more positive effects. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of creativity and provides empirical evidence for policy decisions across cultural contexts.

Author

• Deepak Sharma, Indian Institute of Management