Random Experiment on Relative Feedback with University Students

Last registered on July 17, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Random Experiment on Relative Feedback with University Students
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014016
Initial registration date
July 13, 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
July 17, 2024, 1:44 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Spain
Region
Madrid

Primary Investigator

Name
Cristian Macías
Affiliation
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2022-01-09
End date
2024-12-31
Keywords
Education
Additional Keywords
higher education, relative feedback, percentiles
JEL code(s)
C93
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.
Abstract
Our research analyzes the impact of relative feedback on the academic performance and motivation of university students at one of the leading universities in Madrid. After the students take a midterm exam, the treatment group is given their percentile rank in relation to the class average grades. At the end of the course, we aim to determine whether the feedback's impact on the treatment group improves their grades or, conversely, if it leads to overconfidence and worsens their results.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Macías, Cristian. 2024. "Random Experiment on Relative Feedback with University Students." AEA RCT Registry. July 17. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14016-1.0
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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Our research analyzes the impact of relative feedback on the academic performance and motivation of university students at one of the leading universities in Madrid. After the students take a midterm exam, the treatment group is given their percentile rank in relation to the class average grades. At the end of the course, we aim to determine whether the feedback's impact on the treatment group improves their grades or, conversely, if it leads to overconfidence and worsens their results.
Intervention Start Date
2022-01-10
Intervention End Date
2024-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Determining whether relative feedback helps improve university students' grades
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The aim is to analyze whether knowledge of their percentile rank throughout the semester among students at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid improves their final course grades. To achieve this, a database has been compiled over several semesters, comprising a sample of over 600 students. The class was divided into a treatment group, who received their percentile rank along with their midterm grade, and a control group, who only received their exam grade. To understand the sample, questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the course, asking for relevant data and their estimated final course grade. Additionally, at the end of the course, another questionnaire was administered to determine whether awareness of their percentile rank stimulates additional motivation or, conversely, leads to overconfidence.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomized experiment conducted using statistical software
Randomization Unit
University students from different degrees and subjects across various academic years
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
604 students
Sample size: planned number of observations
1500 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
300 students in the control group and 304 in the treatment group
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan