Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The class of degree obtained by university students can have a big influence on how much they earn as graduates, and how hard they study at university can impact on the class of degree they obtain. If students were more aware of how their study effort could influence their grades and their subsequent earnings, would they study harder? This study aims to test whether providing students with information on the relationships between study effort, grades and earnings affects their study effort and the grades they then achieve.
Who can participate?
Full-time undergraduate students in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick
What does the study involve?
Students are randomly allocated to one of two groups. The first group receive information on the relationship between effort, academic achievement and graduate outcomes. Information is provided to the students before arriving at the university, followed with more information over the course of their degree. Students are also sent follow-up emails and hard copy communications at intervals of about two weeks. In total there are four follow-up interventions over a period of two months. The second group receive no treatment.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no known benefits or risks of participating. The study is intended to discover whether students put in more effort as a result of receiving the information about the effort and graduate outcomes.
Where is the study run from?
University of Warwick (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2016 to June 2019
Who is funding the study?
University of Warwick (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Robin Naylor
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
UOW (RANAJOJPS)
Study information
Scientific title
In university students, does the provision of information on the impact of study effort on academic performance and graduate earnings, compared to no treatment, increase study effort and performance?
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Providing students with information about the effects of study effort on academic performance and graduate earnings will lead them to increase their own effort and performance.
Ethics approval
University of Warwick Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, 16/05/2016, ref: 101/15-16
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
No participant information sheet available
Condition
Behavioral choices regarding extent of study effort
Intervention
Half of a cohort of undergraduate students within a single university department will be randomly assigned to a treatment group, the other half will form the control group. The treatment group will be provided with information regarding the empirical relationship between student effort, student academic achievement and graduate outcomes. The treatment will be administered in phases: initial information will be provided to students prior to arriving at the university and this will be followed up with further phases of information provision over the course of the students' registration on their degree. Students in the treatment group will be sent follow-up emails and hard copy communications containing further research evidence on the relationships between student effort, academic grades and post-university labour market outcomes. These follow-ups will be sent at intervals of approximately two weeks. In total there will be four follow-up interventions over a period of two months. The control group will receive no treatment.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
1. Records of attendance in seminars, submission of coursework, and attendance at tests
2. Marks obtained in all forms of coursework throughout the academic year and in end-of-year examinations (in each year of study)
Measures of student academic performance will be taken continuously through the academic year as students’ marks on coursework (essays, test and problem sets) are marked and at the end of the academic year when students’ end of module examination marks are confirmed.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Engagement in studies, such as meeting contact points
2. Engagement in the life of the department, such as volunteering as student ambassadors
Measures of student engagement in their studies will be taken at the end of each of the three study terms based on monitoring points of attendance in seminar meetings, personal tutor meetings, examinations and tests and submission of module evaluations.
Overall trial start date
19/01/2016
Overall trial end date
30/06/2019
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Full-time undergraduate students in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick
2. All full-time students are aged 17 or over. There is no upper limit, though in practice almost all students are below the age of 30
Participant type
Other
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
400
Participant exclusion criteria
None
Recruitment start date
09/09/2016
Recruitment end date
14/10/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Warwick
Department of Economics
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
University of Warwick
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The trial results will be publicised through the production of academic papers which will be presented at academic conferences and workshops and submitted for publication to academic journals. Wider impact will also be sought through engagement with press, media and individuals and institutions within the education sector.
IPD sharing plan
The dataset will consist of sensitive data on individual student characteristics such as attendance, performance, and graduate destinations. The data will be held on a secure server.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary