Demand for Empirical Course Data

Abstract

We perform a randomized control trial in which we provide students with a tool that visualizes empirical grade information of classes at a large public university. Visualization viewership is monitored and demand is linked to individuals through a unique student ID number. In this study, we test demand for such a course tool across numerous student groups. We find that freshmen are the most likely to use the visualization, quantitatively oriented majors are no more likely to use the visualization, and students are most likely to use tool shortly after receiving an email.