Social Network Structure as a Factor of Success in Academic Performance

In this paper we evaluate the impact of social interaction network on the academic performance of students at the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University. We analyze the peer effects in two compulsory subjects: Mathematical Analysis and Econometrics. Data on social network structure were collected through a survey. The peer effects were estimated using a linear-in-means model with instrumental variables and a stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM). According to the results of the estimation of the first model, a significant peer effect was found for the study interaction network; however, no significant effect was found for the friendship network. The results of the SAOM model showed that the academic performance of one's social environment has a positive effect on an individual's academic performance. The results of the study can be useful in forming academic groups, organizing teamwork and shaping the learning process.