The Long-Run Effects of Soft Commitments and Reminders on Academic Performance

We study the long-run effects of soft commitments and reminders on academic performance. In
a randomized field experiment, our first treatment consisted of sending students in a
7-semester bachelor's degree program reminders about the recommended study structure
each semester. The second treatment group received the same reminders but in the first
semester were on top offered the opportunity to commit to the recommended study structure
with a non-binding agreement. After 5 years, we find that the reminders did not generate any
effects on academic performance. The soft commitment device treatment on the other hand is
highly effective: after 5 years, students in the commitment treatment are 14 percentage points
more likely to have graduated, 9 percentage points less likely to have dropped out, and their
time to graduation is 0.35 semesters shorter than that of the controls – while maintaining the
same GPA as the controls.

Termin

Zu Gast

Ort