Asian Americans are academic high-achievers. Though they make up just 5 percent of the U.S. population, Asian Americans represent 12 to 18 percent
of the student body at Ivy League universities. Compared to white students they have higher grades and standardized test scores, and are more likely to finish high school and attend college. Many theories exist as to why this is, but none has been widely accepted. Now, researchers, having analyzed longitudinal datasets, believe the recipe for Asian Americans' educational advantage is simple: They exert greater academic effort than their white peers.
Researchers began with data from two national, longitudinal surveys that followed students from kindergarten through high school. In total over 4,000 white students and nearly 1,000 Asian American students were included. The data included GPA, standardized test scores, teacher reports, socio-demographic information and immigration status. Using the data, they tested three popular theories to explain Asian Americans' ...
