Many folks are working on how to help more collegians graduate, particularly if they’re first-in-family to attend. That’s why I found this randomized trial interesting. It’s for first year college students. The average GPA is 1.8 for the control group. The research team tried 3 interventions:
a. Advice.
Peer advisors who email the freshmen regularly, have in person meetings, offer advice for coping and academics, etc. The advisors receive training and a clearly-defined protocol of what to do.
b. Incentives.
Incentives for getting higher GPA than whatever you had before. Each student is offered a $1000 bonus to hit a modest gain, and a $5,000 bonus to hit a stretch goal.
For example, a kid who has a 1.7 GPA, or a “C-” after one semester) would get $1,000 if he got a “B-” next time around. And $5,000 if he got a B+.
c. Combo platter. These students got both advisors and incentives.
Which interventions do you think showed a statistically significant increase in college GPA, if any?
(Answer to yesterday’s Q in the comments).
– Guestblogger GGW
Another slam dunk for the playground legend: c), the combo, with an effect size of .19
Lamar, you’re pretty good. Still shooting that turnaround jumper?
The combo version did have a measurable effect, moving a GPA of 1.8 to about 2.0.
The other stuff generally didn’t, although there are some interesting variations by gender. Good paper.
Josh Angrist et al:
http://economics.mit.edu/files/2939
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