Study Habits and Learning

Last registered on August 29, 2022

View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title

Study Habits and Learning

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0009980

Initial registration date

August 26, 2022

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

August 29, 2022, 1:59 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country

United States of America

Region

Arizona

Primary Investigator

Name

Esteban Aucejo

Affiliation

Arizona State University

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Tomas Larroucau

PI Affiliation

Arizona State University

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Stephanie El Khoury

PI Affiliation

Arizona State University

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

On going

Start date

2022-08-22

End date

2022-12-10

Keywords

Education

Additional Keywords

JEL code(s)

A20 C93 D83 I21 I23

Secondary IDs

Prior work

This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.

Abstract

This study aims at eliciting beliefs about the return to effort and to different study habits in College. The purpose is to look into effective ways to enhance student learning in and outside the classrooms and close the achievement gap between students from different backgrounds (e.g., first generation students). In order to do so, we aim to collect information from students on their current study habits when preparing for exams (ex: how early before the exam do they study, what study tasks do they implement) and then give them tips and advice on how to study effectively.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Aucejo, Esteban, Stephanie El Khoury and Tomas Larroucau. 2022. "Study Habits and Learning." AEA RCT Registry. August 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9980-1.0

Sponsors & Partners

Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

The intervention will consist of delivering information to students regarding the most effective study habits for them to engage in for the purpose of enhancing their performance in the classroom.

Intervention Start Date

2022-10-10

Intervention End Date

2022-10-14

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

The outcome variables are going to consist of all grades on assignments, quizzes, and exams of the student. As well as the course passing status of students and long-run outcomes such as dropout, graduation, and labor market outcomes.

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

1. Upon the start of the semester, the research team and professors will announce that there is a survey available that students can complete and thus take part in a study conducted by professors in the Economics department if they consent. We asked instructors to provide extra credit to the students that complete the survey, but this will depend on each instructor. However, students can opt not to participate in the study and still receive extra credit by completing the first survey.

2. Using the information collected on students from the first survey. Students are stratified into treatment and control groups based on race, gender, first-generation status, performance in the initial exam, and if the classroom they are in will be conducting a final exam or not. The research team will compose personalized messages to the treated student that contain information about the best study habit practices for that student.

3. The treatment group will be sent personalized information on study habits via email before their final exam.

4. A second survey will be conducted at the end of the semester to see how students are updating their belief about their effort and ability.

Experimental Design Details

Randomization Method

Randomization done in office by a computer using STATA. Students are stratified into treatment and control groups based on gender, first-generation status, performance in the initial exam, and if the classroom they are in will be conducting a final exam or not.

Randomization Unit

Student

Was the treatment clustered?

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters

2500

Sample size: planned number of observations

2500

Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms

625 students in group 1 are the control goup, 625 students in group 2 treated with infromation through video and description of study habits, 625 students treated same as group 2 and with personalized message about total effort needed to enhance grade, 625 students in treatment group 3 treated same as group 3 and with personalized message about different types of effort needed to enhance grades.

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

Supporting Documents and Materials

IRB