Role Models in Steering Female Students Towards Economics PhD

Last registered on January 10, 2025

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Role Models in Steering Female Students Towards Economics PhD
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015144
Initial registration date
January 10, 2025

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 10, 2025, 2:11 PM EST

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

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2024-03-02
End date
2025-01-09
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
We conducted a 6-week intervention in a Principles of Economics course at a leading Chinese university with first-year undergraduate students. The findings suggest some differences in responses between male and female students. Female students appear to show increased engagement with economics, including heightened communication with peers, while male students exhibit a more moderate change in similar aspects.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Zhang, Yue. 2025. "Role Models in Steering Female Students Towards Economics PhD." AEA RCT Registry. January 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15144-1.0
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
6-week intervention in a Principles of Economics course at a leading Chinese university with first-year undergraduate students.
Intervention (Hidden)
We employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) approach, dividing students into treatment and control groups. Students in the treatment group received weekly booklets via their class WeChat groups, introducing them to prominent Chinese female economists. These booklets included personal biographies, motivational messages, and summaries of their key research papers. The control group did not receive these materials. By distributing electronic booklets through WeChat, we ensured convenience and trackability of reading materials.
Intervention Start Date
2024-04-01
Intervention End Date
2024-06-28

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Our primary focus is on students’ interest in pursuing higher degrees and their subjective probability judgments regarding the career success of economists of different genders. Through regression analysis, we have identified several intriguing trends.

Preliminary Findings

1. Decreased Interest in Studying Abroad

Students in the treatment group exhibited a decreased interest in studying abroad. This might be attributed to the success stories of Chinese female economists, which highlighted the appeal of the domestic academic environment.

2. No Significant Impact on Pursuing Higher Education

While the treatment group showed increased interest in economics research, their intentions to pursue higher education did not significantly change.

3. Enhanced Interest and Confidence

The intervention appeared to reduce disinterest in economics research and courses, and it boosted students’ confidence in their abilities.

4. Increased Academic Interactions

The treatment promoted communication between students and faculty via WeChat and email, although face-to-face interactions decreased.

5. Subjective Probability Judgments on Career Success
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
6-week intervention in a Principles of Economics course at a leading Chinese university with first-year undergraduate students.
Experimental Design Details
This study began in the spring semester of 2024, when we conducted a survey of students enrolled in Principles of Economics courses across four departments. That semester, a total of 12 Principles of Economics courses were offered, taught by 9 instructors, including 4 female and 5 male teachers. The courses were scheduled on different days and times throughout the week, and students could enroll in any course based on their availability. At the end of March 2024 (the 6th week of the spring semester), we surveyed 247 students who were attending these classes. The survey collected data on students' demographic characteristics, their intended major, and their views on careers related to economics.

Our target group was female students taking the Principles of Economics course. Therefore, we focused on role models that could attract and inspire young women. To this end, we invited three female economists to help select the role models. We first discussed the availability of scholars who had participated in the China Female Economists Forum, considering their influence, career span, and research areas, and ultimately selected 16 role model candidates. We contacted these candidates via email and WeChat, asking if they would be willing to write an introduction for the e-book, focusing on their career challenges and achievements, influence and social responsibility, mentors and role models, and work-life balance.

To ensure that the number of students in the experimental and control group classes was approximately equal, we randomly assigned classes for the role model intervention based on class size. Starting in April, we distributed the e-book four times and administered two quizzes aimed at motivating students to read the e-book and increasing participation in the project. Beginning in June, we conducted a survey of the students to assess the impact of the two-month intervention.
Randomization Method
Coin flip
Randomization Unit
Class level
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
247 students in 12 Classes
Sample size: planned number of observations
247 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
122 students in 5 Classes
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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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