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Title
Exploring the Influence of Early Childhood Education and Care on the Etiology of Achievement
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008:
Author(s)
Publication Date
2020-11
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008
Early Online Version
Abstract
The present study used a genetically-sensitive quantile regression approach to examine the relation between participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and subsequent school performance in literacy and numeracy at grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. The sample consisted of 1255 twin pairs (596 MZ; 659 DZ) with information on both ECEC and the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) scores from the Twin Study of NAPLAN. Results indicated variation in heritability estimates across the distributions of achievement, suggesting that different patterns of etiological influences may exist among children of different ability levels. Additionally, the results provided no evidence that ECEC significantly influenced achievement, and in the genetically-sensitive analyses, no evidence that ECEC moderated the influences of heritability of achievement for typically advantaged children. These results suggest that ECEC may not provide the levels of environmental support for later achievement that advocates claim, although we acknowledge that ECEC quality, which was not measured in the current study, may make a difference in whether or not ECEC influences achievement.
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Behavior Genetics, 50(6), p. 387-400
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2020-08-14
Place of Publication
United States of America
ISSN
1573-3297
0001-8244
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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