Exploring Heterogeneous Effect of Friend’s Academic Foundation on Adolescents’ Academic Achievement

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Sunday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Youth Identity Development and Social Relationships

Abstract

This study estimates the impact of the academic foundation of different individuals within the core friend group of rural Chinese adolescents on their academic performance. Employing 13 ninth-grade classes in rural China, the results show that the average grades of friends in Grade 6 (before they meet) can significantly predict adolescents’ performance in Grade 9. For heterogeneity, the friend with highest grades in Grade 6 has the greatest impact on adolescents’ academic performance, followed by the friend with lowest grades in Grade 6; then the closest friend, and the most marginal friend has the smallest impact. Girls are more affected by friends and students with poor grades are more likely to be influenced by students with poor grades.

Authors

• Boyuan LIU, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Si Chen, The Chinese University of Hong Kong