Shifting parent behavior: Temporal discounting in the face of climate change

Last registered on October 04, 2019
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Shifting parent behavior: Temporal discounting in the face of climate change
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004799
Initial registration date
October 02, 2019

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
October 04, 2019, 11:37 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
India
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Jamie Johnston
Affiliation
Stanford University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Pooja Suri
PI Affiliation
University of California, Berkeley
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2019-08-01
End date
2020-04-30
Keywords
Education, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
Climate Change, Parenting
JEL code(s)
D91
Secondary IDs
Abstract
While temporal discounting contributes to inaction in tackling the eventual consequences of climate change, the implications of these consequences are inherently different for parents whose utility maximization are likely to include that of their child’s as well. In this study, we examine whether orienting a parent’s perspective toward the future of their child results in different environmental choices. We leverage a large environment education program being administered in 136 schools across 10 states in India to conduct a cluster randomized trial that looks at the impact of sending parents information about the implications of climate change on household behavior. The information will be provided in pamphlet form and asks parents to take simple actions around the household to help save water and reduce waste and their carbon footprint. In one treatment arm, we send general information, while in a second treatment arm, the wording of the pamphlet is modified to reference the child’s future. In a third control arm, parents receive no information. We also randomize treatment across an additional 110 middle schools that are not receiving the environment education program.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Johnston, Jamie and Pooja Suri. 2019. "Shifting parent behavior: Temporal discounting in the face of climate change." AEA RCT Registry. October 04. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4799-1.0
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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
In this study, we examine whether orienting a parent’s perspective toward the future of their child results in different environmental choices. We leverage a large environment education program being administered in 136 middle schools across 10 states in India to conduct a cluster randomized trial that looks at the impact of sending parents information about the implications of climate change on household behavior. The information will be provided in pamphlet form and asks parents to take simple actions around the household to help save water and reduce waste and their carbon footprint. In one treatment arm, parents will receive general information, while in a second treatment arm, the wording of the pamphlet is modified to reference the child’s future. In a third control arm, parents receive no information.
Intervention Start Date
2019-11-04
Intervention End Date
2020-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Our primary outcome measures are child-reported household behaviors at the end of the academic year, as well as the number of parent pledges, which will serve as a proxy for immediate parent concern and action. The number of additional pledges will serve as a measure of parents' effort (given the additional lift to collect additional signatures).
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
At baseline we ask students to report on a number of behaviors in the home related to saving water, reducing energy consumption, reducing waste, and caring for nature and wildlife. We will again ask about these behaviors at the end of the academic year.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary outcomes are child-reported attitudes and beliefs within the household about climate change, as well as child-reported interactions related to discussing and addressing climate change.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
While our primary outcome measure is behaviors, we recognize that it is a greater challenge to impact actual behaviors and that movement along attitudes and beliefs that might change future behaviors are an important outcome, as well.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will conduct a cluster randomized trial that looks at the impact of sending parents information about the implications of climate change on household behavior. The information will be provided in pamphlet form and asks parents to take simple actions around the household to help save water and reduce waste and their carbon footprint. In one treatment arm, we send general information, while in a second treatment arm, the wording of the pamphlet is modified to reference the child’s future. In a third control arm, parents receive no information. We will randomized treatment at the school level, stratifying by region and whether a school is implementing an environment education program.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
We will conduct the randomization by computer using Stata.
Randomization Unit
We will randomized treatment at the school level, stratifying by region and whether a school is implementing an environment education program.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
246 schools
Sample size: planned number of observations
25,000 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
78 schools receiving no pamphlets, 84 schools receiving general pamphlet, 84 schools receiving child-centered pamphlet
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