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

TitleA Bayesian non-parametric modeling to estimate student response to ICT investment
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsCabras, S, Tena, JD
JournalJournal of Applied Statistics
Volume43
Issue14
Pagination2627-2642
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.

URLhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02664763.2016.1142946
DOI10.1080/02664763.2016.1142946
KeywordsBART, Bayesian statistics, causality, ICT, regression trees