Study group design and university dropout --- a randomized study

Last registered on August 15, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Study group design and university dropout --- a randomized study
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012844
Initial registration date
January 16, 2024

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
January 19, 2024, 2:15 PM EST

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

Last updated
August 15, 2025, 4:40 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Alexander Koch
Affiliation
Aarhus University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Kristoffer Ibsen
PI Affiliation
Aarhus University
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PI Name
Julia Nafziger
PI Affiliation
Aarhus University
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PI Name
Michael Rosholm
PI Affiliation
Aarhus University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2022-06-01
End date
2031-08-31
Keywords
Education
Additional Keywords
Study group composition, Peer effects, Higher education, Stratified randomization
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The aim of the study is to test how the composition of study groups affects study performance and dropout among first-year bachelor students of business economics and management at Aarhus University. For this purpose, we use a stratified randomization matching procedure to assign students to study groups, spanning a wide variety of possible matching patterns.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ibsen, Kristoffer et al. 2025. "Study group design and university dropout --- a randomized study." AEA RCT Registry. August 15. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12844-2.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The aim of the study is to test how the composition of study groups affects study performance and dropout among first-year bachelor students of business economics and management at Aarhus University. For this purpose, we use a stratified randomization matching procedure to assign students to study groups, spanning a wide variety of possible matching patterns.

Intervention Start Date
2022-08-01
Intervention End Date
2026-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary outcome is first-year dropout from the study program.

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
As secondary outcomes, we will investigate the number of course credits (ECTS) completed by students during the first two semesters of their studies and the grades that they obtain.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We use stratified randomized matching to assign first-year students of three study programs within the area of business economics and management (called HA, BA SOC, and BScB) to study groups.

Update August 2025: The faculty extended the duration of the project for assigning to study groups by one year for the three study programs that were originally included (called HA, BA SOC, and BScB) and added one program (Public Policy). The added program will admit around 50 students from September 2025.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Stratified randomization done in office by a computer.
Randomization Unit
Study group.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
700 study groups.
Sample size: planned number of observations
3100 students.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
There are no treatments. The study relies on stratified randomization to identify peer effects.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Institutional Review Board at Aarhus University
IRB Approval Date
2023-02-10
IRB Approval Number
BSS-2023-015
Analysis Plan

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