Working Paper: NBER ID: w17677
Authors: Jason M. Lindo; Isaac D. Swensen; Glen R. Waddell
Abstract: We consider the relationship between collegiate-football success and non-athlete student performance. We find that the team's success significantly reduces male grades relative to female grades. This phenomenon is only present in fall quarters, which coincides with the football season. Using survey data, we find that males are more likely than females to increase alcohol consumption, decrease studying, and increase partying in response to the success of the team. Yet, females also report that their behavior is affected by athletic success, suggesting that their performance is likely impaired but that this effect is masked by the practice of grade curving.
Keywords: collegiate sports; student performance; gender differences; alcohol consumption; academic achievement
JEL Codes: H0; I23; J16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| football team success (Z20) | male student grades (I24) |
| football team success (Z20) | male alcohol consumption (I12) |
| football team success (Z20) | male studying (J16) |
| football team success (Z20) | female student grades (I24) |
| football team success (Z20) | gender gap in academic performance (I24) |
| male student grades (I24) | gender gap in academic performance (I24) |