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The effect of education on cognitive ability
Torberg Falch1, Sofia Sandgren Massih
1Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim.
Economic Inquiry
|October 26, 2011
Summary
Attending school boosts intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. Each year of education increases IQ by approximately 3 points, suggesting education enhances cognitive ability.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive science
- Educational psychology
- Behavioral genetics
Background:
- Understanding the relationship between education and cognitive ability is crucial for policy and individual development.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results on the causal impact of schooling on intelligence.
Observation:
- The study utilizes a longitudinal dataset tracking individuals' intelligence quotient (IQ) test scores from age 10 to 20.
- Cognitive ability at age 10 and other early measures were controlled for to address selection bias into non-compulsory schooling.
Findings:
- One year of schooling is associated with an increase of 2.9–3.5 IQ points (approximately 0.2 standard deviations).
- Both ordinary least squares and instrumental variables analyses yield similar positive estimates for schooling's effect on IQ.
Implications:
- Findings suggest that educational attainment is a significant factor in cognitive development.
- Results support policies aimed at increasing school attendance and educational attainment for cognitive enhancement.
- The study contributes empirical evidence to the nature vs. nurture debate regarding intelligence.
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