Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/295870 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 16847
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper studies the relationship between the creative abilities of study peers and academic achievement. We conduct a novel large scale field experiment at university, where students are randomized into work groups based on their score on a creativity test prior to university entry. We first show that the creative abilities of peers matter for a student's academic achievement. A one standard deviation higher creativity peer group improves study performance by 8.4 to 10 percentage points. Notably, this effect is driven by the average group creativity, there is no special impact of creative superstars. Further analysis suggests that students exposed to creative peers become more creative, but do not adjust their overall study effort. This is in line with the idea that creative approaches and questions of peers help students to master the study material better. Overall, our study highlights the importance of peer effects of creative students in shaping academic outcomes.
Subjects: 
peer effects
academic achievement
creativity
field experiment
JEL: 
I21
I24
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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