6 ms·

Of course, students have no reason to report deaths of relatives when there are no consequences to missing class. So, deaths most likely only get reported durin

Of course, students have no reason to report deaths of relatives when there are no consequences to missing class. So, deaths most likely only get reported during exams.

rflrob 14y ago
Furthermore, more conscientious students are more likely to grin and bear it, thus giving the A students a lower rate of reporting.
- michaelt 14y ago
  I agree, but that still doesn't explain why the reported death rate for grandmothers is 24 times higher than that for grandfathers. I suppose it's possible students care about their grandmothers more than their grandfathers.
  - jiggy2011 14y ago
    Men also die earlier than women so it's possible most students grandfathers are already dead before they reach college. I know this was the case for me.
    - mpl 14y ago
      For me as well. And I have three grandmothers, courtesy of my stepmother. Two of them died while I was in college, the third is 97 y.o., and I've got two more semesters to go, so there's a chance I may be one of those people who dips into the "negative grandmothers" category.
    - aes256 14y ago
      This is a very good point. Both my grandfathers passed away when I was young (i.e. before I took any important exams), whereas both my grandmothers are still alive and kicking.
    - michaelt 14y ago
      There's not really an age when women outnumber men 24:1 though [1] [1] Figure 2, http://cnx.org/content/m42935/latest/?collection=col11407/latest http://cnx.org/content/m42935/latest/?collection=col11407/la...
- Matti 14y ago
  Along the same lines: for a young college student the death of a grandparent might very well constitute the first experience of losing a family member. With little experience, it's not always clear how these situations should be handled with respect to work or school. More mature individuals are more likely to handle deaths within the family with discretion. With increasing age it is also more likely that you've already had your grandparents die.

Of course, students have no reason to report deaths of relatives when there are no consequences to missing class. So, deaths most likely only get reported during exams.

rflrob 14y ago

Furthermore, more conscientious students are more likely to grin and bear it, thus giving the A students a lower rate of reporting.

michaelt 14y ago
I agree, but that still doesn't explain why the reported death rate for grandmothers is 24 times higher than that for grandfathers. I suppose it's possible students care about their grandmothers more than their grandfathers.
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  Men also die earlier than women so it's possible most students grandfathers are already dead before they reach college. I know this was the case for me.
  - mpl 14y ago
    For me as well. And I have three grandmothers, courtesy of my stepmother. Two of them died while I was in college, the third is 97 y.o., and I've got two more semesters to go, so there's a chance I may be one of those people who dips into the "negative grandmothers" category.
  - aes256 14y ago
    This is a very good point. Both my grandfathers passed away when I was young (i.e. before I took any important exams), whereas both my grandmothers are still alive and kicking.
  - michaelt 14y ago
    There's not really an age when women outnumber men 24:1 though [1] [1] Figure 2, http://cnx.org/content/m42935/latest/?collection=col11407/latest http://cnx.org/content/m42935/latest/?collection=col11407/la...
Matti 14y ago
Along the same lines: for a young college student the death of a grandparent might very well constitute the first experience of losing a family member. With little experience, it's not always clear how these situations should be handled with respect to work or school. More mature individuals are more likely to handle deaths within the family with discretion. With increasing age it is also more likely that you've already had your grandparents die.