Evaluating the effects of the provision of information on the impact of effort on rewards
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN63009303 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN63009303 |
| Protocol serial number | UOW (RANAJOJPS) |
| Sponsor | University of Warwick |
| Funder | University of Warwick |
- Submission date
- 19/09/2016
- Registration date
- 19/10/2016
- Last edited
- 31/10/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
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
Contact information
Scientific
Department of Economics
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| 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? |
| Study objectives | 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(s) | University of Warwick Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, 16/05/2016, ref: 101/15-16 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | 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 |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Records of attendance in seminars, submission of coursework, and attendance at tests |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Engagement in studies, such as meeting contact points |
| Completion date | 30/06/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 400 |
| Key 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 |
| Key exclusion criteria | None |
| Date of first enrolment | 09/09/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 14/10/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| 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. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
31/10/2017: Internal review.
