A Bayesian non-parametric modeling to estimate student response to ICT investment Articles uri icon

publication date

  • February 2016

start page

  • 2627

end page

  • 2642

issue

  • 14

volume

  • 43

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0266-4763

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1360-0532

abstract

  • This paper estimates the causal impact of investment in information and communication technologies (ICT) on student performances in mathematics as measured in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 for Spain. To do this we apply a new methodology in this context known as Bayesian Additive Regression Trees that has important advantages over more standard parametric specifications. Results indicate that ICT has a moderate positive effect on math scores. In addition, we analyze how this effect interacts with variables related to school features and student socioeconomic status, finding that ICT investment is especially beneficial for students from a low socioeconomic background.

keywords

  • regression trees; causality; ict; bayesian statistics; bart