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Research ArticleArticles

The Effect of Advanced Placement Science on Students’ Skills, Confidence, and Stress

Dylan Conger, Alec I. Kennedy, Mark C. Long and Raymond McGhee Jr.
Journal of Human Resources, January 2021, 56 (1) 93-124; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.56.1.0118-9298R3
Dylan Conger
Professor of public policy at the George Washington University.
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Alec I. Kennedy
Educational policy analyst at the San Francisco Unified School District.
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Mark C. Long
Professor of public policy and governance and adjunct professor of economics at the University of Washington
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Raymond McGhee Jr.
Senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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Abstract

The AP program has been widely adopted by secondary schools, yet the evidence on the impacts of taking AP courses has been entirely observational. We report results from the first experimental study of AP, focusing on whether AP endows students with greater human capital than other regular and honors courses. We find suggestive evidence that taking an AP science course increases students’ science skill and their interest in pursuing a STEM major in college. AP course-takers also have lower confidence in their ability to succeed in college science, higher levels of stress, and worse grades than their control counterparts.

JEL Classification:
  • I20
  • J24
  • Received January 2018.
  • Accepted April 2019.
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Journal of Human Resources: 56 (1)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 56, Issue 1
Winter 2021
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The Effect of Advanced Placement Science on Students’ Skills, Confidence, and Stress
Dylan Conger, Alec I. Kennedy, Mark C. Long, Raymond McGhee Jr.
Journal of Human Resources Jan 2021, 56 (1) 93-124; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.1.0118-9298R3

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The Effect of Advanced Placement Science on Students’ Skills, Confidence, and Stress
Dylan Conger, Alec I. Kennedy, Mark C. Long, Raymond McGhee Jr.
Journal of Human Resources Jan 2021, 56 (1) 93-124; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.1.0118-9298R3
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. AP Science and Conceptual Framework
    • III. AP Science Impact Study
    • IV. Empirical Strategy
    • V. Results
    • VI. Conclusion
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    • References
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Keywords

  • I20
  • J24
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