Even if the scholarship did not improve grades at all, awardees would have performed better than non-recipients, simply because scholarships were given to students who were performing well ex ante.
Jopa jos apuraha ei parantaa arvosanoja ollenkaan, tunnustuspalkintojen olisivat suoriutuneet paremmin kuin ei-vastaanottajille, yksinkertaisesti, koska apurahat annettiin opiskelijoille, jotka suorittivat sekä ex ante.