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BBC (web):
Ego-boosts 'drive up boys' results'

10 December 2013

Boys are much more likely than girls to be influenced by where they stand in ability in school, research suggests. A study from the London School of Economics indicates being seen as a high flyer in primary school, regardless of actual ability, can be a strong motivator for boys' performance in secondary school. ''Boys were four times more affected by being top of the class than girls.'' The study was based on results of more than two million pupils in England. The research, from Richard Murphy and Felix Weinhardt, examined how much pupils might be affected by comparisons with others in primary school and how these perceptions might become a factor in raising or lowering confidence.

This article was published online by BBC News on December 10, 2013
Link to article here

See also
UK Wired News
Boys 'improve in school from feeling top of class'

Related publications
In brief...Top of the class, Richard Murphy and Felix Weinhardt. Article in CentrePiece Volume 18, Issue 2, Autumn 2013
'The Importance of Rank Position', Richard Murphy and Felix Weinhardt, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 1241, September 2013

Related links
Richard Murphy webpage
Felix Weinhardt webpage
Education and Skills Programme webpage

Read more... BBC (web)