Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Self-Assessment: The Role of the Social Environment
Author-Name: Armin Falk
Author-Email:
Author-Name: Fabian Kosse
Author-Email:
Author-Name: Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch
Author-Email:
Author-Name: Florian Zimmermann
Author-Email: Florian.Zimmermann@briq-institute.org

Classification-JEL: D03, C21, C91, I24
Keywords: Self-Assessment, Beliefs, Experiments, Randomized Intervention, Children

Abstract: This study presents descriptive and causal evidence on the role of the social environment in shaping the accuracy of self-assessment. We introduce a novel incentivized measurement tool to measure the accuracy of self-assessment among children and use this tool to show that children from high socioeconomic status (SES) families are more accurate in their self-assessment, compared to children from low SES families. To move beyond correlational evidence, we then exploit the exogenous variation of participation in a mentoring program designed to enrich the social environment of children. We document that the mentoring program has a causal positive effect on the accuracy of children’s self-assessment. Finally, we show that the mentoring program is most effective for children whose parents provide few social and interactive activities for their children. 

Note: 
Length: 29
Creation-Date: 2020-05
Revision-Date: 
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp172
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2020_172