A personalized ability signal increased the probability of participating in AP classes by 49 percentage points among surveyed students¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2017 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Among surveyed students, receiving a personalized message signaling potential to succeed in AP coursework increased the probability of participating in AP classes by 49 percentage points relative to students who did not receive the signal. → Naihobe Gonzalez 2017

q2 i? Students who received a personalized message about their potential to succeed in AP coursework—and who were surveyed for this study—were 49 percentage points more likely to participate in AP classes than peers who did not receive the message. → Naihobe Gonzalez 2017

Evidence¶

Naihobe Gonzalez 2017¶

Naihobe Gonzalez. (2017). How Learning About One's Ability Affects Educational Investments: Evidence from the Advanced Placement Program. Working Paper 52, Mathematica Policy Research. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/how-learning-about-ones-ability-affects-educational-investments-evidence-from-the-advanced-placement

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Regression discontinuity analysis of the 2013 PSAT ability-signal intervention in Oakland Unified School District. The signal "increased the probability of participating in AP classes by 49 percentage points among surveyed students" compared to students who did not receive the signal. No standardized effect size is printed.

"Using a regression discontinuity design, I found that the signal increased the probability of participating in AP classes by 49 percentage points among surveyed students, leading them to enroll in and pass about one more AP course the following year compared to students who did not receive the signal."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The ability signal made students substantially more likely to take an AP exam and to pass more exams by year's end — related
• Small changes in the way information is presented can have a large impact on a person's decision to participate in a program — a broader claim this one bears on
• Students who received the ability signal enrolled in and passed about one more AP course the following year — related
• Survey data indicate the ability signal had informational value, leading students to revise self-assessed ability and AP plans consistent with Bayesian learning — related
• Students who were not surveyed for the study did not respond to the ability signal — related
• Most CTE students also participated in college-level coursework, though CTE students had slightly lower AP participation — related