“Replication of mismatch research: Ayers, Brooks, and Ho” (Comment)

Abstract This comment discusses Sander’s replication and extensions of Ayers and Brooks (2004) and Ho (2005). While these papers argued that their results largely negate the possibility of that there exist large “mismatch” effects in law schools associated with preferential admissions given to black applicants, Sander argues that when he corrects and/or extends their methods, the results largely suggest mismatch to be quite prevalent. As I discuss below, I think both of these conclusions are too strong. Even under Sander’s replications and extensions, the evidence both for or against mismatch is simply quite weak given these data and methods.