An independent study of the impact of a writing exercise on the academic attainment of disadvantaged children in England

ISRCTN ISRCTN79754465
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN79754465
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
01/05/2016
Registration date
06/05/2016
Last edited
09/08/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
There is a general belief that young peoples' life chances can be improved by altering their self-concept and self-belief. The theory is that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds can be stigmatised by their background and face a negative stereotype regarding their academic achievement. The 'Writing About Values" intervention seeks to reverse this negative stereotype by getting these individuals to write about positive statements or values important to them. The theory is that the writing activity gives pupils a sense of value, alleviating negative feelings associated with their perceptions of themselves. A number of studies, most of which are conducted in the US, suggest that this approach has been successful in overcoming negative stereotype and improving the grades of traditionally disadvantaged groups like the African American and Latino American students. So far no large-scale robust studies have been conducted in the UK that look into the impact of this writing activity on the academic outcomes of disadvantaged children. This study will be the first in the UK to test the causal effect of the writing activity on academic attainment.

Who can participate?
All Year 10 and Year 11 pupils from 25 secondary schools in the South-East of England

What does the study involve?
Pupils are randomly allocated into two groups. Those in the treatment group are given an exercise booklet in which they write about values that are important to them. Those in the control group are given an alternative writing exercise, which could be writing about values that are not important to them but may be important to others. It has been suggested that this intervention is most effective when implemented just before a stressful event. Therefore, these writing exercises are delivered three times a year, once at the beginning of the academic year, once before the mock GCSEs and once just before the GCSEs.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All participating schools will receive an incentive payment of £1,000 for completing the study.There are no particular risks of participation since this activity will be presented as part of a regular English language classroom activity.

Where is the study run from?
Durham University, School of Education (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2015 to December 2019

Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Foundation (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Beng Huat See

Contact information

Dr Beng Huat See
Public

Durham University
School of Education
Leazes Road
Durham
DH1 1TA
United Kingdom

Prof Stephen Gorard
Public

School of Education
Leazes Road
Durham
DH1 1TA
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)191 334 8419
Email s.a.c.gorard@durham.ac.uk
Dr Matthew Easterbrook
Scientific

School of Psychology
University of Sussex
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9QH
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-9353-5957

Study information

Study designMulti-site randomised single-blind controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)School
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised controlled trial to test the causal effect of writing about personal values on the academic attainment of Year 10 and Year 11 pupils (aged 14 to 16) in England
Study objectivesThe theory behind this intervention is that people who belong to groups that are typically seen as underachieving are aware of the negative stereotype associated with them. This can lead to anxiety and low self-concept, which in turn can reduce learning and motivation. The belief is that getting pupils to write about their personal values can alleviate negative feelings and overcome stereotype threat. Research evidence in the US suggests that the writing activity has positive effects on improving the grades of underachieving African American and Latino American students, but had no impact on white students, thus narrowing the achievement gap.

Research questions:
1. What impact does the “Writing About Values” activity have on the academic attainment of disadvantaged pupils (EverFSM) using the individual pupil’s Attainment 8 measure at GCSE after one year of treatment (for initial Y11)?
2. Is there a sustained impact of the “Writing About Values” activity on the Attainment 8 measure at GCSE for EverFSM pupils a year after the end of the intervention? (for initial Y10)
3. What impact does the “Writing About Values” activity have on all pupils (EverFSM and non-EverFSM) using the individual pupil’s Attainment 8 measure at GCSE after one year of treatment? (for initial Y11)
4. Is there a sustained impact of the “Writing About Values” activity on the Attainment 8 measure at GCSE for all pupils (EverFSM and non-EverFSM) a year after the end of the intervention? (for initial Y10)
5. Is there a sustained impact of the “Writing About Values” activity on pupil’s self-reported non-attainment outcome one year after the end of the intervention?
Ethics approval(s)Durham University's Ethics Review Committee, 26/08/2015, ref: 2091
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAttainment at GCSE and self-efficacy
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 30/06/2016:
All Year 10 and Year 11 pupils in the participating schools will be individually randomised to either treatment or control condition, stratifying by year group, class and FSM status.

This is a multi-site single blind controlled trial.

The intervention is a writing activity where the treatment group writes about values that are important to them while the control pupils are given an alternative writing exercise, which could be about values that are not important to them but may be important to others. The writing activity will be delivered by English language teachers during their regular English lessons just before the GCSE exams. Pupils will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete the writing exercise.

Previous interventions:
All Year 10 and Year 11 pupils in the participating schools will be individually randomised to either treatment or control condition, stratifying by year group, class and FSM status.

This is a double-blind experiment where both pupils and teachers will not be told what the intervention involves.

The intervention is a writing activity where the treatment group writes about values that are important to them while the control pupils are given an alternative writing exercise, which could be about values that are not important to them but may be important to others. The writing activity will be delivered by English language teachers during their regular English lessons just before the GCSE exams. Pupils will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete the writing exercise.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for EverFSM pupils after 1 year of treatment
2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for EverFSM pupils 1 year after end of intervention
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent secondary outcome measures as of 30/06/2016:
1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils after 1 year of treatment
2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils 1 year after end of intervention
3. Self-efficacy: The self-efficacy survey will be first measured in September 2016, then again in June/July 2017 (Y10 only). It will be assessed via a paper and pencil survey distributed within tutor or form time within schools by form tutors.

Previous secondary outcome measures:
1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils after 1 year of treatment
2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils 1 year after end of intervention
3. One non-attainment outcome measure one year after end of intervention to be confirmed and protocol updated by August 2016
Overall study start date01/07/2015
Completion date01/12/2019

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupChild
SexBoth
Target number of participants14,000
Key inclusion criteriaAll Year 10 and Year 11 pupils from 25 secondary schools in the South-East of England with above average EverFSM eligible pupils
Key exclusion criteria1. Primary schools
2. Secondary schools outside the South-East of England
3. Secondary schools with fewer than 10% of EverFSM-eligible pupils
Date of first enrolment23/11/2015
Date of final enrolment30/06/2016

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Durham University
School of Education
Leazes Road
Durham
DH1 1TA
United Kingdom
University of Sussex
School of Psychology
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9QH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Charity

9th Floor, Millbank Tower
21 – 24 Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7802 1660 or +44 (0)7951 447 956
Email info@eefoundation.org.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03bhd6288

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Education Endowment Foundation (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/03/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planA final report will be published on the Education Endowment Foundation website. At least one academic paper will be published from this study.
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Funder report results addendum to results (not peer-reviewed) 03/09/2020 No No
Funder report results results (not peer-reviewed) 03/09/2020 No No
Protocol file 01/08/2016 09/08/2022 No No
Statistical Analysis Plan 06/11/2017 09/08/2022 No No

Additional files

32052 Protocol August_2016.pdf
32052_SAP_2017.12.01__FINAL.pdf

Editorial Notes

09/08/2022: The protocol and statistical analysis plan were uploaded as additional files.
03/09/2020: Publication reference added.
09/08/2019: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial end date was changed from 31/08/2018 to 01/12/2019.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2019 to 01/03/2020.
06/08/2019: Internal review.
30/06/2016: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment start date was changed from 01/12/2015 to 23/11/2015.
2. The study design was changed from 'Randomised double-blind controlled trial' to 'Multi-site randomised single-blind controlled trial'.
3. The target number of participants was changed from 'Target number of schools is 25 for two year groups (Year 10 and Year 11), with an average of five forms per year group. 30 pupils per form. Total will be 3,750 per year group. There will be 1,875 in each arm for each year group.' to '14,000'.