Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Twin studies find ~20% of the variance in achievement in public examinations taken at age 16 in the United Kingdom can be explained by experiences not shared within families. Nonshared environmental (NSE) influences, including measurement error, explain why monozygotic (MZ) twins differ from each other. Such influences work independently of genetic effects and may represent strong candidates for intervention. This study aimed to generate hypotheses about what these NSE factors might be. Perceptions of within-pair differences were gathered from n = 497 pairs of MZ twins and their parents, and telephone interviews were conducted with n = 56 families reporting different General Certificate of Secondary Education grades. “Environmental” explanations related to teacher quality, teacher–pupil relationships, and ability grouping. Families also explained discordance in terms of effort, interest, ability, and personality.
Source: AERA Open
Authors: Kathryn Asbury, Nicola Moran, Robert Plomin
Institutions: University of York, King's College London
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,000
Funder: Nuffield Foundation
Award: G7460584441
OpenAlex ID: W2529823416