FragSte

Last registered on April 03, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
FragSte
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015552
Initial registration date
March 31, 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
April 03, 2025, 1:06 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Kerstin Schneider
Affiliation
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Johannes Berens
PI Affiliation
Rheinische Hochschule
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PI Name
Leandro Henao
PI Affiliation
Bergische Universiät Wuppertal
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PI Name
Luis Rumert
PI Affiliation
Bergische Universiät Wuppertal
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Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2018-03-01
End date
2019-06-01
Keywords
Education
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
FragSte: The RCT is conducted at a German university, where students identified as at risk of dropping out received targeted warning emails, relied on predictive modeling to determine at-risk status based on first- and second-semester academic performance. Students identified in their second semester (Wave I) or third semester (Wave II) were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, with some receiving both warnings if they remained at risk. Unlike intensive interventions such as one-on-one coaching or peer advising, this intervention represents a low-cost alternative that could be widely implemented with minimal administrative burden.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Berens, Johannes et al. 2025. "FragSte." AEA RCT Registry. April 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15552-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The series of experiments records the effects of information on study performance on study behavior and the probability of dropping out or completing a course of study. Here, students of all subjects at a university in Germany are confronted with information interventions in an RCT. Students at risk of dropping out receive an email from the university informing them that the university has various offers of support for students.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2018-03-01
Intervention End Date
2019-06-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Study performance
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Students at risk of dropping out are randomly assigned to controll and treatment groups.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done by computer
Randomization Unit
individuals, small study groups
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
N.A.
Sample size: planned number of observations
1600
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1. Students at risk of dropping out are randomly assigned to controll and 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

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