The Obama Effect

A new study has found that the test taking proficiency of African Americans improved dramatically following Barack Obama’s nomination and election.

The study by three faculty members administered 20 questions drawn from the Graduate Record Exam to about120 white and black test-takers during last year’s presidential campaign.

Whites performed noticeably better on the test administered in the summer. But the difference between the two groups, the researchers found, was “statistically nonsignificant” on tests administered after Mr. Obama’s nomination acceptance speech, and after his election victory.

According to Ray Friedman, management professor at Vanderbilt University, coauthor of the study, “We were skeptical that we would find any effect, but our results surprised us.”