Bridging the Digital Divide: A Randomized Controlled Trial Providing Internet Access to Low-Income Students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susha Roy
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Low Income Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled

What High-Achieving Low-Income Students Know About College

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 514-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Hoxby ◽  
Sarah Turner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Selective Colleges ◽  
Selective Schools

Previous work demonstrates that low-income higher achievers fail to apply to selective colleges despite their being admitted at high rates and receiving financial aid so generous that they pay less than at non-selective schools. The Expanding College Opportunities project, a randomized controlled trial, provides individualized information about colleges' net prices, resources, curricula, students, and outcomes. Our prior study shows that the intervention raises students' applications to, admissions at, enrollment, and progress at selective colleges. Here we use survey data to show that it actually changes students' knowledge and decision-making. We highlight topics on which they are misinformed.

A Cautionary Tale about Emergency Financial Assistance without Services: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation at a Community College

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 218-222
Author(s):  
William N. Evans ◽  
Melissa S. Kearney ◽  
Brendan Perry ◽  
James X. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
College Completion ◽  
Low Income Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
College Completion Rates

Community college completion rates are extremely low, especially among low-income students. One potential explanation is that low-income students have limited capacity to overcome financial shocks, such as large medical, legal, or car repair bills. Some programs offer “emergency financial assistance” (EFA) to prevent these events from curtailing educational progress. We test the efficacy of EFA within the context of a broader randomized controlled trial at a community college in Texas. We find no evidence that access to EFA alone leads to improved outcomes. We speculate that EFA will only be effective if it is paired with additional case management services.

scholarly journals The ASHA (Hope) Project: Testing an Integrated Depression Treatment and Economic Strengthening Intervention in Rural Bangladesh: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Alison Karasz ◽  
Shabnam Anne ◽  
Jena Derakhshani Hamadani ◽  
Fahmida Tofail
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Depression Treatment ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Low Income Women ◽  
Economic Strengthening ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Depression, a debilitating disorder, is highly prevalent among low-income women in low- and middle-income countries. Standard psychotherapeutic approaches may be helpful, but low treatment uptake, low retention, and transient treatment effects reduce the benefit of therapy. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness and feasibility of an integrated depression treatment/economic strengthening intervention. The study took place in two villages in the Sirajganj district in rural Bangladesh. Forty-eight low-income women with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10) were recruited and randomized to intervention or control arms. The intervention included a six-month group-based, fortnightly depression management and financial literacy intervention, which was followed by a cash-transfer of $186 (equivalent to the cost of two goats) at 12 months’ follow-up. The cash transfer could be used to purchase a productive asset (e.g., agricultural animals). The control arm received no intervention. Findings showed significant reduction in depression scores in the intervention group. The mean PHQ-9 score decreased from 14.5 to 5.5 (B ± SE, −9.2 ± 0.8 95% CI −10.9, −7.5, p < 0.01) compared to no change in the control group. Most other psycho-social outcomes, including tension, self-esteem, hope, social-support, and participation in household economic decision-making, also improved with intervention. An integrated depression treatment and financial empowerment intervention was found to be highly effective among rural low-income women with depression. Next steps involve formal testing of the model in a larger trial.

scholarly journals Digital support systems to improve child health and development in low income settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Wallenborn ◽  
D Mäusezahl ◽  
A Castellanos ◽  
D McCoy ◽  
C e Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Health And Development

Abstract About 250 million children under age five are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential due to continued exposure to ill health, malnutrition and lack of appropriate learning environments. A large number of initiatives have been launched in recent years to support early childhood development, with home visiting programs increasingly being recognized as a key strategy for improving child wellbeing. However, the most effective ways to reach families in low income settings remain unclear due to the large expense associated with personal family visits. In this project, we assess the effectiveness and equity of a newly developed digital platform designed to deliver evidence-based, individualized parenting support through automated services. The Afinidata platform uses state-of-the art machine learning algorithms to allow caregivers to get answers to questions about child health and development, while also identifying and promoting age- and development-appropriate activities for parents to support their children. We will collaborate with partners in Peru to rigorously assess the reach, impact and cost effectiveness of this digital platform in a poor rural population through a randomized controlled trial. Our work will follow a mixed-methods evaluation approach with repeated feedback into the Afinidata system. A total of 2,400 newborns will be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in San Marcos, Peru, and followed up for two years. The primary study outcome will be children's healthy development at 24 months of age assessed through the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III). Secondary outcomes will be systems utilization, program coverage and cost-effectiveness, as well as caregiver satisfaction. If proven effective, this innovative digital platform may increase global access to low-cost parental support -a widely recognized key strategy for improving child well-being.

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