Added Value Measures in Education Show Genetic as Well as Environmental Influence

Claire M. A. Haworth, Kathryn Asbury, Philip S. Dale, Robert Plomin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Does achievement independent of ability or previous attainment provide a purer measure of the added value of school? In a study of 4000 pairs of 12-year-old twins in the UK, we measured achievement with year-long teacher assessments as well as tests. Raw achievement shows moderate heritability (about 50%) and modest shared environmental influences (25%). Unexpectedly, we show that for indices of the added value of school, genetic influences remain moderate (around 50%), and the shared (school) environment is less important (about 12%). The pervasiveness of genetic influence in how and how much children learn is compatible with an active view of learning in which children create their own educational experiences in part on the basis of their genetic propensities.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere16006
Number of pages10
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Feb 2011

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