The effect of interviews on preferences: evidence from the Israeli Psychology Master's Match

Last registered on June 04, 2020

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The effect of interviews on preferences: evidence from the Israeli Psychology Master's Match
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0005962
Initial registration date
June 03, 2020

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
June 04, 2020, 2:29 PM EDT

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

Last updated
June 04, 2020, 3:52 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Hebrew University and Stanford University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Bar-Ilan University
PI Affiliation
Penn State University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2020-04-01
End date
2020-07-07
Secondary IDs
Abstract
We look at data acquired during the 2020 applications cycle to Master's programs in Psychology in Israel. The data is obtained from the matching system that governs the market (the Israeli Psychology Master's Match, or IPMM). Starting from 2020, rank-order lists (ROL) were collected both before and after the interviewing period, and we can look at the evolution of preference between these two periods. We show a correlation between being ranked highly by a program and increasing its rank compared to the previously inputted rank. We also link these results with the applicants' responses to a post-match survey regarding their motivation to change their preferences because of the interviews.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Hassidim, Avinatan, Assaf Romm and Ran Shorrer. 2020. "The effect of interviews on preferences: evidence from the Israeli Psychology Master's Match." AEA RCT Registry. June 04. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.5962-1.1
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2020-06-07
Intervention End Date
2020-06-21

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The increase and decrease in the rank of each program in each applicant's ROL.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Applicants were asked to submit pre-interviewing ROLs that will be used in case they do not input their ROLs during the ranking period (it was made clear to applicants that this is a common phenomenon, and that starting from 2020 they are required to input "default ROLs" until April 19). It was confirmed with the participating institutions that no interviews were conducted prior to April 19. During the regular ranking period (June 7 to June 21) applicants will input their final ROLs. Applicants will actively submit their final ROL. This data, together with programs' ROLs will be provided to the researchers by the IPMM. In addition, the researchers will run a survey through the IPMM website.
Experimental Design Details

Applicants were asked to submit pre-interviewing ROLs that will be used in case they do not input their ROLs during the ranking period (it was made clear to applicants that this is a common phenomenon, and that starting from 2020 they are required to input "default ROLs" until April 19). It was confirmed with the participating institutions that no interviews were conducted prior to April 19. During the regular ranking period (June 7 to June 21) applicants will input their final ROLs. Half of those that previously reported their default ROLs would be presented with their default ROLs, and half would not be presented with them. In both cases, the applicants will actively submit their final ROL. This data, together with programs' ROLs will be provided to the researchers by the IPMM. In addition, the researchers will run a survey through the IPMM website.
Randomization Method
Randomization was done in office by a computer.
Randomization Unit
Individuals (paired using a minimum-weight algorithm, and then random individual out of each pair)
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
778 applicants
Sample size: planned number of observations
778 applicants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
339 in each treatment
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
Analysis Plan

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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