The fellow effect on college students' academic performance.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Educational Psychology
• Economics

Background:

• Peer effects significantly influence student outcomes.
• Understanding the nuances of these effects is crucial for educational policy.
• The concept of 'fellow effect' requires empirical investigation in higher education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence and nature of the fellow effect among college students.
• To analyze the impact of peer academic achievement on individual student performance.
• To explore heterogeneity in fellow effects based on gender, geography, and academic major.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2018 College Graduates Employment Survey.
• Employed two-stage regression analysis to address endogeneity.
• Used parental education level as an instrumental variable for peer academic achievement.
• Conducted robustness checks using municipal-level fellow samples.

Main Results:

• Higher academic achievement among peers positively impacts individual student performance.
• Conversely, lower peer academic achievement negatively affects individual student performance.
• The fellow effect is more pronounced for female students than male students.
• Geographical variations observed, with stronger effects in eastern China compared to central and western regions.
• Significant differences in fellow effects noted between humanities and social science majors.

Conclusions:

• The fellow effect is a significant factor in college student academic achievement.
• Interventions should consider peer group composition and its differential impact.
• Further research is needed to explore policy implications for diverse student populations and majors.