The Effects of Mobile-Learning on Language and Integration outcomes: Evidence From a Randomized Experiment in Integration Courses in Germany

Last registered on November 13, 2018

Pre-Trial

General Information

Title

The Effects of Mobile Learning on Immigrants’ and Refugees' Foreign Language and Social Integration Skills: A Case Study in Germany

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0003524

Initial registration date

November 13, 2018

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 13, 2018, 4:49 PM EST

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

Locations

Country

Germany

Region

Europe

Primary Investigator

Name

Zouhier Kassaballi

Affiliation

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Malte Becker

PI Affiliation

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

In development

Start date

2019-01-31

End date

2019-07-31

Keywords

Education

Additional Keywords

Integration, Migrants, Mobile-learning

JEL code(s)

Secondary IDs

Abstract

It is generally agreed upon that the most vital step towards integrating into a new culture is learning the spoken language. The language barrier issue could delay social integration and productivity outcomes. The use of mobile assisted language learning applications along with integration course attendance may improve, through several channels, the language-learning and social integration outcomes among immigrants in Germany. We will conduct an RCT among migrants and refugees, in order to estimate the effect of encouraging the use of the German language-learning and similar applications on the study population´s German skills and social integration outcomes. we tend to focus on the application "Ankommen" since it includes several social integration topics as well as the fact that it has been developed by the German federal office for migration and refugees. We hypothesis that using the help of mobile learning to get to know important cultural aspects would increase social integration efforts and outcomes.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Becker, Malte and Zouhier Kassaballi . 2018. "The Effects of Mobile Learning on Immigrants’ and Refugees' Foreign Language and Social Integration Skills: A Case Study in Germany." AEA RCT Registry. November 13. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.3524-1.0

Former Citation

Sponsors & Partners

Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

In order for the study to be policy relevant, the intervention will be encouraging the use of existing and free of charge German language learning applications.

The sample will consist of 2 equally distributed groups: 1 treatment and 1 control group.

The intervention will include:
1) A video promoting highly-rated and free German learning apps, we will tend to focus on the application “Ankommen” in specific. The video will explain how the application "Ankommen" works, why it is useful and how to download it. The video also includes the experiences of migrants with MALL and it's advantages in general.
2) In addition, promotional material like posters will be hanged in the classroom for constant reminiscence.
3) Flyers will be handed out in order to induce constant usage.

Intervention Start Date

2019-01-31

Intervention End Date

2019-07-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

1) German test scores
2) Self-reported German language skills
3) Self-reported social integration levels

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

1) Sample questions for the Evaluatory German test will be taken from Goethe institute test banks.
The test will be focussing on reading and writing skills.
2) The main focus of the integration outcome is social integration, in specific daily life satisfaction level. One of the estimators is the number of German-speaking friends.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

1) Dropout rate from integration courses

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Comparing the percentage of people, between the two groups, that continued the course to move to A2-level.

Experimental Design

The aim is to estimate the effect of encouraging the use of Mobile-assisted language learning on immigrants' and refugees' German language skills. A randomized post-experimental research design will be used, with a treatment group and a control group. The treatment being in its nature non-excludable, we will have to use randomized promotion experiments, which will take place in integration schools in Germany. There will be no pre-test since we are in a suitable position to assume that on average the language level of students starting an A1 integration course is the same, moreover, students that want to start an integration course are subjected to a placement test which identifies the student’s language level.

A typical integration school offers one A1-level course every 2 months, clustering will occur on a class level within schools. 4 classes from each participating school will be randomly assigned to treatment or control. Our sample will include about 60 schools offering integration courses that are within a radius of about 200 km around Göttingen.

We will employ a matched-pair cluster-randomized design, assigning treatment to half of the study population and clustering on a class level. We will use optimal Mahalanobis matching. Covariates to be matched on are the size of the school, the maximum German level offered by the school, size of the city and socioeconomic status of the neighborhood the school is located. Within each pair, treatment is randomly assigned for every treatment phase. All A1-students of the courses are invited to participate.

Experimental Design Details

Randomization Method

Randomization done in office by a computer.

Randomization Unit

Cluster on a class level.

Was the treatment clustered?

Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters

The study is anticipating around 220 clusters (Integration Classes).

Sample size: planned number of observations

Around 2200 students are planned to participate in the study.

Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms

110 classes in the control group
110 classes in the treatment group

Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)

Our minimum detectable effect based on previous literature is assumed to be a 0.2 standardized effect. A standard desired power of 80% and a significance level of 5%.

Supporting Documents and Materials

IRB