Men’s Reactions to the Long-Term Implications of Part-Time Work

Last registered on November 29, 2023

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Men’s Reactions to the Long-Term Implications of Part-Time Work
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012498
Initial registration date
November 14, 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
November 29, 2023, 9:54 AM EST

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

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Affiliation
University of Zurich

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Tufts University
PI Affiliation
University of Zurich
PI Affiliation
University of Zurich

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-11-13
End date
2024-12-31
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The research goal of this study is to understand how men react to learning about the long-term financial consequences of having a reduced workload. In particular, we design a field experiment where the treatment consists of an informational video discussing the long-term financial consequences of a reduced workload. We compare this treatment to a control group that receives a video with unrelated information.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Costa-Ramon, Ana et al. 2023. "Men’s Reactions to the Long-Term Implications of Part-Time Work." AEA RCT Registry. November 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12498-1.0
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
To test whether learning about the long-term financial consequences of having a reduced workload impacts men’s behaviors and decision-making, we randomly assign an informational video containing three main dimensions of objective information about these long-term consequences:
a. Information on the total earnings lost in the long-term
b. Information on the financial consequences for pensions
c. Information on the financial risk in case of adverse events (such as divorce) for the reducing partner.
The video also puts the life-time financial losses in perspective to the short-term childcare costs. To illustrate these concepts, the video presents the decision-making process of a female teacher regarding her workload together with her partner.

The control group also receives a video but on an unrelated topic. We use a video created by the national public television as part of their regular programming (https://www.srf.ch/). In particular, the video discusses research on the impact of digital media, particularly screens like smartphones and tablets, on children's development, language acquisition, and family relationships.
Intervention Start Date
2023-11-13
Intervention End Date
2024-01-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We have three main research questions:

1) How do men adjust their and their partners’ (desired) workload intentions after being exposed to information about the long-term consequences of part-time work? Would this adjustment depend on their partner's career prospects?
2) Do men recommend similar workload adjustments for men and women working part-time?
3) Are men willing to discuss the consequences of part-time work with their partners?

To answer the first research question, we will measure workload intentions for upcoming years, and workload next year from administrative data.

To answer the second research question, we design a vignette to measure if recommended workload adjustments and the factors considered depend on the gender of the person with reduced workload portrayed in the vignette. Half of the sample (within each treatment and control group) sees this vignette portraying a female, while the other half sees a version that reverses the gender.

To answer the third research question, we measure participants willingness to share the survey and video with their partner, by offering a raffle of an additional voucher worth 500 CHF. We also directly ask participants if they intend to discuss any aspect of the video with their partner (and other people), and which specific topics they plan to address.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The field experiment will be implemented by inviting male teachers via email and physical letters.

In Region A, we will generate individualized survey links for every school employee, and the regional authorities will oversee the distribution of survey invitations through letters. In Region B, the regional authorities will establish contact with school principals by email, providing them with the survey link to our study. In region C, we will contact the school principals by email, providing them with the survey link to the study. Subsequently, the school principals will forward this invitation to the teachers within their respective schools, also through email.

In terms of timeline, we time receipt of the letter or email during the second half of November 2023, before teachers start conversations with school principals about their desired workload for the upcoming academic year, which usually takes place beginning of December.

We randomize participants entering the survey into treatment and control at the individual level. We will collect survey data and we will also merge it with administrative data on workload provided by employers.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Individual-level randomization performed with Qualtrics.
Randomization Unit
We randomize participants entering the survey into treatment and control at the individual
level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
At least 400 individuals
We do not have a predetermined number of observations planned, as invitations to the study
will be sent by the regional authorities and the school principals, and it will ultimately depend
on the response rate.
Sample size: planned number of observations
At least 400
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
200 observations control, 200 observations treatment
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
The Human Subjects Committee of the Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology at the University of Zurich
IRB Approval Date
2022-10-03
IRB Approval Number
OEC IRB # 2021-070
Analysis Plan

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