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Effects of Cooperative Learning in Secondary Schools in Karnataka, India

Last registered on November 14, 2017

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Effects of Cooperative Learning in Secondary Schools in Karnataka, India
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0002567
Initial registration date
November 14, 2017

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 14, 2017, 10:59 AM EST

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

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Aarhus University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Bocconi University
PI Affiliation
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
PI Affiliation
Washington and Lee University

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2017-08-16
End date
2020-02-29
Secondary IDs
Abstract
Past studies suggest that effective policy interventions to improve learning, particularly for first generation learners, must address in some measure the psychological dimensions of inequality which might affect these students. Our study aims to study policy interventions which take into account these psychological factors, through randomized experiments in education. Randomized evaluations allow us to test alternative treatments that can increase learning as well as student satisfaction and motivation. In particular, we are interested in understanding how a powerful alternative pedagogic method of group learning (cooperative learning) can affect learning outcomes among students, with particular focus given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Our study will make a significant contribution to the understanding of (a) how learning outcomes can be improved and (b) how policymakers can ensure that the benefits of post-primary education reach all sections of the populations, which is central to the idea of shared prosperity. Not only is the project very relevant for education policy makers in India, it is also academically important. We know very little about what precisely is the role of cooperative learning methods and mixing of students in handling educational and social diversity and evaluating whether such methods can help increase learning and reduce gaps in learning outcomes is likely to be an important contribution.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Banerjee, Ritwik et al. 2017. "Effects of Cooperative Learning in Secondary Schools in Karnataka, India ." AEA RCT Registry. November 14. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.2567-1.0
Former Citation
Banerjee, Ritwik et al. 2017. "Effects of Cooperative Learning in Secondary Schools in Karnataka, India ." AEA RCT Registry. November 14. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/2567/history/23206
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2017-11-26
Intervention End Date
2018-02-28

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Educational outcomes including test scores and educational aspirations; School well-being and likeability; Social networks and social preferences;
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The population will consist of all 6th, 7th and 8th classes from all KVS schools in Karnataka. The sample will consist of all the schools from the population that will return the initial request form. Randomization will be done at the school level. Treatment schools will be exposed to alternative cooperative methods of learning, while control schools will get the usual learning method but of the same material. School-level randomization will minimize spillover effects. Performance will be measured at the group level and the individual level. Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention data will be collected on both test scores (administered by independent evaluators visiting the school), school likeability survey and behavioral data on social preferences. The project will be monitored, especially in the initial stages of the program to ensure the randomization and group configurations are respected. The monitoring personnel will be trained such that the implementation of the project is conducted with the standards considered appropriate in the profession.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Computer randomization
Randomization Unit
Randomization will be done at the school level. A block randomization design is adopted, where blocking is done with respect to district income and school size.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
37 schools
Sample size: planned number of observations
11,000 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
11 schools control, 26 schools in various cooperative learning treatments (10 schools in cooperative learning variant 1, 9 schools in cooperative learning variant 2, 7 schools in cooperative learning variant 3)
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