Can Soap Operas increase hope? Adding edutainment to a graduation-style program in the Philippines

Last registered on November 10, 2025
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Can Soap Operas increase hope? Adding edutainment to a graduation-style program in the Philippines
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0017149
Initial registration date
November 04, 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
November 10, 2025, 9:09 AM EST

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

Locations

Country
Philippines
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Dean Karlan
Affiliation
Northwestern University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Dean Karlan
PI Affiliation
Northwestern University
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Catherine Thomas
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Gharad Bryan
PI Affiliation
London School of Economics
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2023-09-24
End date
2024-10-04
Keywords
Education, Finance & Microfinance, Welfare
Additional Keywords
Aspirations, Edutainment, Graduation, Ultra-poor, Hope
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of aspirational soap opera videos integrated into International Care Ministries’ (ICM) 15-week Transform program, targeting ultra-poor households in the Philippines. Transform consists of weekly two-hour sessions on values, health, and livelihoods, alongside fortified rice distribution, a small repayable “Business in a Box” kit, and savings group training. A total of 5,400 participants across 180 communities were randomly assigned to four arms: Control (Transform only), and three treatment arms receiving Transform plus soap operas featuring low, typical, or high levels of achievement. The study tests the effects of exposure to aspirational narratives on hope, agency, and optimism, and on improvements in economic outcomes, including income, consumption, and savings.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Bryan, Gharad et al. 2025. "Can Soap Operas increase hope? Adding edutainment to a graduation-style program in the Philippines." AEA RCT Registry. November 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.17149-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2023-10-30
Intervention End Date
2024-03-11

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
- Economic well being (e.g., income, consumption, assets)
- Wellbeing and mental health outcomes (e.g., subjective well being, subjective health, depression)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This is a cluster-randomized trial with 180 communities (clusters), each linked to a pastor coordinating the 15-week Transform program. Communities were randomly assigned to one of four arms: Control (Transform only, 90 clusters), Treatment 1 (Transform + low achievement soap operas, 30 clusters), Treatment 2 (Transform + reasonable achievement soap operas, 30 clusters), and Treatment 3 (Transform + high achievement soap operas, 30 clusters). Randomization was stratified by ICM’s internal geographical structure (4 bases × 3 branches = 12 strata). Household-level surveys were administered to one participant per household through baseline and endline surveys, with endline occurring six months after the intervention concluded.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Community
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
180
Sample size: planned number of observations
3613
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
30 clusters in treatment groups and 90 clusters in control 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
Innovations for Poverty Action IRB-USA
IRB Approval Date
2023-09-22
IRB Approval Number
15058
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

Analysis Plan

MD5: 8157d0099124dfc283ca42fa71cfc99e

SHA1: 39f5d8b38f8138373b37f17b841446b6198f5e0d

Uploaded At: November 04, 2025

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

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