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Field
Experimental Design (Public)
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Before
RCT participants will be randomized to one of two experimental arms:
Control - Participants in this arm would receive no intervention. Pairs are not introduced by the study.
Treatment - Juniors will be introduced to a senior living in the same hostel and speaking the same language. This senior will meet with the junior for eight weeks and provide social support – The pair will be asked to do weekly activities that provide them with opportunities to form a friendship. They will be guided to discuss both practical topics (which can be very mentally costly when new to an environment -- e.g., where to buy medicine) and questions intended to create a closer bond (e.g. what would be a perfect day for you and why?)
We plan to enroll 500 pairs of juniors and seniors (1000 participants) in the experiment. Juniors and seniors in the treatment and control arms will complete surveys at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 (intervention endline), and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. A comprehensive plan to track participants who leave the factory and return to their villages through phone surveys is in place. Up to three baseline contacts of each RCT participant will be enrolled in the social network sample (i.e. up to 3000 participants). Social network participants will complete brief surveys at baseline and endline.
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After
RCT participants will be randomized to one of two experimental arms:
Control - Participants in this arm would receive no intervention. Pairs are not introduced by the study.
Treatment - Juniors will be introduced to a senior living in the same hostel and speaking the same language. This senior will meet with the junior for eight weeks and provide social support – The pair will be asked to do weekly activities that provide them with opportunities to form a friendship. They will be guided to discuss both practical topics (which can be very mentally costly when new to an environment -- e.g., where to buy medicine) and questions intended to create a closer bond (e.g. what would be a perfect day for you and why?). On 30 July 2023 we altered the script of the first event that introduces Juniors and Seniors, to better reflect the roles of each of the “buddies”. We also introduced an additional set of fun “get-to-know-you” activities, through which the pair interacted with each other under the guidance of the study staff.
We plan to enroll 500 pairs of juniors and seniors (1000 participants) in the experiment. Juniors and seniors in the treatment and control arms will complete surveys at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 (intervention endline), and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. A comprehensive plan to track participants who leave the factory and return to their villages through phone surveys is in place. Up to three baseline contacts of each RCT participant will be enrolled in the social network sample (i.e. up to 3000 participants). Social network participants will complete brief surveys at baseline and endline.
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