Comment on Demographic gaps or preparation gaps?: The large impact of incoming preparation on performance of students in introductory physics

TL;DR

This paper critiques a recent study claiming demographic score gaps in physics are mainly due to pre-college preparation, providing evidence that preparation gaps may not be the primary cause of these differences.

Contribution

It challenges the assumption that preparation gaps are the main factor in demographic score differences, emphasizing the need for more causal evidence.

Findings

Preparation gaps are unimportant for male/female score differences

No causal evidence links preparation differences to demographic score gaps

The paper questions the focus on preparation as the primary cause

Abstract

A recent paper by Salehi et al. claims that the differences found between major demographic groups on scores in introductory college physics tests are due to differences in pre-college preparation. No evidence is produced, however, to show that preparation differences are more causally important than any other differences. In one case, the male/female difference, the paper actually provides evidence that preparation gaps are unimportant.