DATA EXTRACT: Spring 2020 Grade Choice Study

Abstract

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced classes online, Indiana University and many other institutions allowed students to opt, mid-semester, to receive an S/F grade instead of a letter grade. Standard models in information economics predict that students would only select this option if they expect to receive very low letter grades. Casual observation, however, suggests that students with a wide range of grade of grade expectations have opted for S/F.

This research will investigate theories of why students opted for S/F grades. Specifically we will test different models about grade disclosure, including standard models from economic theory and models where students have risk aversion over their final grades.

This item presents the queries used to provide data to fulfill the above research project.