Back to History

Fields Changed

Registration

Field Before After
Trial Title Reinforcing Analytical Abilities in the Classroom Reinforcing Higher Order Reasoning in the Classroom
Abstract We will evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention designed to enhance the analytical skills of highly disadvantaged children. The intervention began in October 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in April 2025, spanning two academic years from grade 2 to grade 3. It incorporates structured activities and materials aimed at improving core components of analytical thinking, including fluid reasoning, short-term memory, categorization and inference skills. The program aims to improve children’s ability to learn the regular curriculum more effectively and to develop critical thinking, with the expectation of fostering lasting academic and socioemotional benefits. The trial covers a total of 132 primary schools in two provinces, Gaziantep and Sirnak in Southeast Turkiye, with 67 schools assigned to the program, 65 remain in control. The total sample size is approximately 14,000 students. We will evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention designed to enhance multiple cognitive and higher order reasoning skills of highly disadvantaged children. The intervention began in October 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in April 2025, spanning two academic years from grade 2 to grade 3. It incorporates structured activities and materials aimed at improving pattern recognition, working memory, categorization and analogical reasoning. The program aims to improve children’s ability to learn the regular curriculum more effectively and to develop critical thinking, with the expectation of fostering lasting academic and socio-cognitive benefits. The trial covers a total of 132 primary schools in two provinces, Gaziantep and Sirnak in Southeast Turkiye, with 67 schools assigned to the program, 65 remain in control. The total sample size is approximately 14,000 students.
Last Published July 24, 2025 08:53 AM December 02, 2025 10:04 AM
Intervention (Public) The intervention utilizes a set of curricular materials designed to enhance various components of analytical thinking in young children. Its overarching goal is to accelerate learning and improve efficiency, thereby strengthening fundamental numeracy and literacy skills in early primary school years. During the first year, the program focuses on developing abstract reasoning, short-term memory, and analytical categorization skills. In the second year, it emphasizes inference and analogy skills. Trained teachers were instructed to dedicate at least four hours per week to implementing the materials in regular class hours. The program implementation has been ongoing since October 2023 and at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The intervention utilizes a set of curricular materials designed to enhance various components of higher order reasoning in young children. Its overarching goal is to accelerate learning and improve higher order reasoning skills in early primary school years. During the first year, the program focuses on developing pattern recognition, working memory, and analytical categorization skills. In the second year, it emphasizes analogical reasoning and pattern matching. Trained teachers were instructed to dedicate at least four hours per week to implementing the materials in regular class hours, possibly crowding out some core teaching. The program implementation has been ongoing since October 2023 and at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The final endline data collection will take place in April/May 2026.
Primary Outcomes (End Points) We will evaluate the effectiveness of the program with respect to: Directly targeted cognitive skills: Fluid IQ Analytical categorization Short-term memory Analogy Indirectly targeted cognitive skills: Critical thinking Attention Cognitive empathy (ToM) Crystallized IQ (Math and language skills) We will evaluate the effectiveness of the program with respect to: Directly targeted cognitive skills: Fluid IQ Analytical categorization Working memory Analogical reasoning Indirectly targeted cognitive skills: Critical thinking Attention Cognitive empathy (ToM) Crystallized IQ (Math and language skills)
Secondary Outcomes (End Points) We will also measure various socioemotional skills, mainly to explore mechanisms: We plan to measure: Growth mindset Curiosity Risk attitudes Locus of control Social preferences We will also measure teachers' cognitive abilities, attitudes and styles to be able to conduct heterogeneity analysis based on teacher characteristics. We will also measure various socioemotional skills, mainly to explore mechanisms: We plan to measure: Growth mindset Curiosity Risk attitudes Locus of control We will also measure teachers' cognitive abilities, attitudes and styles to be able to conduct heterogeneity analysis based on teacher characteristics.
Back to top