Prof. Chengfang Liu and co-authors published in International Journal of Educational Development

Release date：2023/11/10　　Source： CCAP

On November 7, International Journal of Educational Development published online the research paper "Association between ability tracking and student's academic and non-academic outcomes: Empirical evidence from junior high schools in rural China" by Prof. Liu Chengfang, Associate Dean of School of Advanced Agriculture, Peking University and Deputy Director of CCAP, and her co-authors. between ability tracking and student's academic and non-academic outcomes: Empirical evidence from junior high schools in rural China ".

Based on panel data collected from more than 10,000 students in 119 rural junior high schools in two northwestern provinces, this dissertation examines the effects of class grouping by grades on students' academic performance (math achievement) and non-academic performance (math self-concept and math anxiety). The study found that, overall, class placement by grades did not affect students' academic and nonacademic performance. Further analyses showed that although class placement by grades had no significant effect on math achievement and math self-concept of students in higher and lower performing classes, it reduced math anxiety of students in higher performing classes.

Shriyam Gupta, a graduated master's student supervised by Chengfang Liu at Peking University's Yanjing Academy (currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland), is the first author of this result, and Liu is the corresponding author. Ms. Li Shaoping from Huzhou Normal College, Ms. Chang Fang from Shaanxi Normal University and Prof. Shi Yaojiang are the co-authors of this paper. The research results were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the Distinguished Youth Fund Program and other grants.