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Information and College Access: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment *
Author(s) -
Oreopoulos Philip,
Dunn Ryan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the scandinavian journal of economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.725
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1467-9442
pISSN - 0347-0520
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9442.2012.01742.x
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , calculator , educational attainment , economics , demographic economics , psychology , mathematics education , medical education , actuarial science , economic growth , medicine , computer science , operating system
High‐school students from disadvantaged high schools in Toronto were invited to take two surveys, about three weeks apart. Half of the students taking the first survey were also shown a three‐minute video about the benefits of post‐secondary education (PSE) and were invited to try out a financial‐aid calculator. Most students’ perceived returns to PSE were high, even among those not expecting to continue. Those exposed to the video, especially those initially unsure about their own educational attainment, reported significantly higher expected returns and lower concerns about costs, and expressed a greater likelihood of PSE attainment.