An experiment to include gender-related material in introductory microeconomics

Last registered on December 06, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
An experiment to include gender-related material in introductory microeconomics
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012409
Initial registration date
November 29, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
December 06, 2023, 8:19 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region
Washington

Primary Investigator

Name
Rachel Heath
Affiliation
University of Washington
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Melissa Knox
PI Affiliation
University of Washington
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Yael Jacobs
PI Affiliation
University of Washington
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2023-10-19
End date
2024-09-30
Keywords
Education, Gender
Additional Keywords
gender; introductory microeconomics; universities; teaching ecoomics
JEL code(s)
A22; J16; I23; J24
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
We assess whether an intervention that introduces gender-related material into an introductory economics course improves students’ sense of relevance and belonging, test scores, and application to the economics major.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Heath, Rachel, Yael Jacobs and Melissa Knox. 2023. "An experiment to include gender-related material in introductory microeconomics." AEA RCT Registry. December 06. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12409-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will begin fall 2023 and continue throughout the academic year 2023-2024 and possibly longer. Students will be assigned to treatment (gender economics curriculum) or control (labor economics curriculum), which consists of two lectures lasting approximately as long as a regular class session (1 hour and 20 minutes). The gender curricula was developed by PI Heath, whose research focuses on gender and labor markets in low-income countries, and who teaches a gender in economics undergraduate course. The material in that course can frequently be explained using simple tools developed in introductory microeconomics, and the gender in economics module in particular focuses on:
1. introduce models of labor market discrimination, explain statistical versus taste-based discrimination, and explore empirical evidence on policies designed to close gender wage gaps (pay transparency, flexibility in wage setting). (Lecture 1)
2. introduce models of family economics and the economics of fertility, including the impacts of access to contraception (Lecture 2)
Intervention Start Date
2023-11-06
Intervention End Date
2024-05-10

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
1. A survey-based measure of ``relevance, belonging, and growth mindset"
2. Final exam score, exclusive of questions on the supplementary material.
3. Taking Econ 300
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Our survey-based measure of ``relevance, belonging, and growth mindset'' is similar to Bayer et al, 2020. We calculate an ``RBG index'' that averages together fifteen questions intended to measure a student's sense of relevance, belonging, and growth. The index is defined to be the equally weighted average of z-scores of its components. Each question's z-score is calculated by subtracting that question's mean from the student's response and dividing by that question's standard deviation. See appendix table A1 in our PAP for a list of all fifteen questions.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Enrollment in introductory macroeconomics (Econ 201)
Application to the economics major
Acceptance to the economics major
Successful completion of graduation requirements (within 4 and 5 years).
Enrollment in math courses that serve as gateway courses to the major (Math 300 or Applied Math 301).
Application to the math major
Acceptance to the math major
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We randomly saturate TA sections, treating 25%, 50%, and 75% of students. Following Banerjee et al (2020) we conduct 10 randomizations and choose the randomization that contains the fewest differences between treatment and control among the following variables: student gender (we group students who identify as nonbinary with students who identify as women), status as an underrepresented minority, first generation, and location of origin (US/international).
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Stata dofile
Randomization Unit
Individual level randomization, with random saturation of TA sections.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
1537 students
Sample size: planned number of observations
1537 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
We randomly saturate TA sections, treating 25%, 50%, and 75% of students.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
University of Washington
IRB Approval Date
2023-09-19
IRB Approval Number
STUDY00018533
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

PAP

MD5: 9a5a6caf27e81158b0dd839da24a72f6

SHA1: 3729bf0595641062feadb479bfc2ad9ae50a9163

Uploaded At: November 29, 2023

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials