The effect of class size on grades and course evaluations: Evidence from multisection courses

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Using rich administrative data from a small Dutch liberal arts college, I study how the number of students enrolled in a course affects student grades and course evaluations. Exploiting variation across parallel sections of the same course taught by the same instructor, I show that class size has a significant negative effect on student grades in mandatory courses, but not in electives. I show similar results for various components of student course evaluations: perceived overall course quality, perceived amount learned, student participation and engagement. I interpret these findings to be consistent with class size affecting educational outcomes through student engagement.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)624-642
JournalBulletin of Economic Research
Volume73
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • class size
  • course evaluations
  • grades
  • student engagement

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