Question

Research has shown students who sit near the front row of large lecture halls are more likely to get an A than are students who sit near the back row. One possible interpretation of this finding is that there is a causal relationship between sitting near the front row and getting an A. a. Give one reason why sitting near the front of a lecture hall might have a causal impact on your chances of getting an A. b. Comment on the validity of a causal interpretation of the observed association between sitting near the front row and getting an A. In doing so, relate your answer to the ability bias problem that plagues estimates of the return to college.

Answer 1

a. When you sit on the first row you naturally pay more attention in the class. You will understand things more clearly hence you get A.

b. The ability bias might happen because top scorers would naturally want to sit on the first row because they want to pay more attention in the class or people who get A are usually the ones who sit on the first row.