Stanford study: The most religious kids do the best in school

Horwitz discusses the possibility that perhaps conscientious and cooperative adolescents are more drawn to religion, explaining the correlation between academic achievement and strength of religious belief. However, she determines such an explanation is highly unlikely since religion tends to be non-voluntary for most of an adolescent’s life.

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How can this study provide insight on improving education outcomes? In education research, much effort has been devoted to the achievement gap between families of higher and lower incomes. Horwitz acknowledges that her paper is unique in its capacity to identify another mechanism that may drive student performance—the habits procured from increased religiosity at home. Given other research showing that kids are more likely to retain their faith when attending religious schools that inculcate a strong and coherent worldview, this suggests religion-centered education as such also can boost student achievement.

The implication of Horwitz’s research is that some achievement gaps are not due to a lack of government funding or economic redistribution, but rather, a lack of proper habits and socially positive beliefs being instilled at home and reinforced in school. While religion is certainly a sufficient vehicle for transmitting certain values, Horwitz does not suggest it is necessary. Her paper does not, however, point to an alternative.

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