@article{KretschmannVockLuedtkeetal.2019,
  author    = {Kretschmann, Julia and Vock, Miriam and L{\"u}dtke, Oliver and Jansen, Malte and Gronostaj, Anna},
  title     = {Effects of grade retention on students' motivation: A longitudinal study over 3 years of secondary school},
  series = {The journal of educational psychology},
  volume    = {111},
  journal   = {The journal of educational psychology},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {American Psychological Association},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {0022-0663},
  doi       = {10.1037/edu0000353},
  pages     = {1432 -- 1446},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Despite the fact that grade retention is now seen as controversial in many quarters, it remains common practice in numerous countries. Previous research on the effects of grade retention on student development has, however, generated ambiguous results, particularly in terms of motivational outcomes. This ambiguity has been attributed in part to a lack of high-quality studies including a longitudinal design, a suitable comparison group, and adequate statistical control of preretention differences. Based on longitudinal data of N = 3,288 German students over 3 years of secondary school, we examined differences in their academic self-concept, scholarly interests, learning motivation, and achievement motivation between those being retained in the 6th grade (n = 61) and those of the same age being promoted annually. To account for confounding variables, we applied full propensity score matching on baseline measures of the dependent variables, as well as various other covariates that have been found to be associated with the risk of retention (e.g., cognitive ability, academic performance, and family background variables). Results reveal a steep decline in students' academic self-concept, interests, and learning motivation during the last months spent in the original class, just before retention. For those measures that were available, negative effects were still partly significant after 1 year, but had diminished 2 years after grade retention. Contrary to predictions suggested by the big-fish-little-pond effect, we found no positive effects of retention on students' academic self-concept.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeckerLuedtkeTrautweinetal.2012,
  author    = {Becker, Michael and L{\"u}dtke, Oliver and Trautwein, Ulrich and K{\"o}ller, Olaf and Baumert, J{\"u}rgen},
  title     = {The differential effects of school racking on psychometric intelligence Do academic-track schools make students smarter?},
  series = {The journal of educational psychology},
  volume    = {104},
  journal   = {The journal of educational psychology},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {American Psychological Association},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {0022-0663},
  doi       = {10.1037/a0027608},
  pages     = {682 -- 699},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Prior research has shown that quantity of schooling affects the development of intelligence in childhood and adolescence. However, it is still debated whether other aspects of schooling-such as ability tracking or, more generally, school quality-can also influence intelligence. In this study, the authors analyzed intelligence gains in academic- and vocational-track schools in Germany, testing for differential effects of school quality (academic vs. vocational track) on psychometric intelligence. Longitudinal data were obtained from a sample of N = 1,038 Grade 7 and 10 students in 49 schools. A nonverbal reasoning test was used as an indicator of general psychometric intelligence, and relevant psychological and social background variables were included in the analyses. Propensity score matching was used to control for selection bias. Results showed a positive effect of attending the academic track.},
  language  = {en}
}