tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post3453380642286403289..comments2023-11-19T20:38:50.237-08:00Comments on Economic Logic: Today's students are lazyEconomic Logicianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171296292101248614noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-2082241404328925312010-06-25T08:40:10.334-07:002010-06-25T08:40:10.334-07:00Babcock and Marks were right when they opened with...Babcock and Marks were right when they opened with the quote: "if history is a guide, every generation has a tendency to slander its progeny with allegations of decadence and sloth."<br /><br />The findings are as follows:<br /><br />"We find steep declines in the average weekly study time of full-time college students at four-year colleges over this period, from about 24 hours per week in 1961 to about 14 hours per week in the 2000’s. Study time fell for students from all demographic subgroups, within every major, and at 4-year colleges of every type, degree structure and level of selectivity. We conclude that the change in college culture is real."<br /><br />There is some suggestive evidence that students work harder in recessions (http://gearybehaviourcenter.blogspot.com/2009/05/is-recession-making-students-study.html). Babcock and Marks look at four time periods: 2003-2005, 1987-1989, 1981, and 1961.<br /><br />61 and 81 are characterised by much higher study time, but scholars of U.S. economic history will also know that these years are characterised by recession. This graph provides confirmation:<br /><br />http://bit.ly/buL5yR<br /><br />Babcock and Marks conclude that:<br /><br />"postsecondary institutions in the United States are falling short of their traditional standard for academic time investment, and that the gap between actual effort elicited and the requirements or expectations articulated by these institutions has grown over time."<br /><br />While the recession-theory cannot be proven, it be a useful addition to how we understand these findings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-54291625519705423722010-06-10T17:10:20.675-07:002010-06-10T17:10:20.675-07:00I hear you with this one. I was an adjunct for tw...I hear you with this one. I was an adjunct for two semesters and it was a nightmare. For better or worse, I failed half the class (calculus I) and then had to quit the job.<br />Aint no way to sugar coat it.Kernnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-4156876940357461002010-06-07T08:59:45.705-07:002010-06-07T08:59:45.705-07:00Well, grade inflation is one of those coordination...Well, grade inflation is one of those coordination problems. You can't deviate unilaterally and give realistic grades because you're just dooming yourself and your students.<br /><br />Oh, and what's with all the sports and pampering of athletes at US universities?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com