Nudging at Scale: Experimental Evidence from FAFSA Completion Campaigns. EdWorkingPaper No. 19-117
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| Title: | Nudging at Scale: Experimental Evidence from FAFSA Completion Campaigns. EdWorkingPaper No. 19-117 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Kelli A. Bird, Benjamin L. Castleman, Jeffrey T. Denning, Joshua Goodman, Cait Lamberton, Kelly Ochs Rosinger, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University |
| Source: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2019. |
| Availability: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 59 |
| Publication Date: | 2019 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Laura and John Arnold Foundation Heckscher Foundation for Children Kresge Foundation |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Financial Aid Applicants, Student Financial Aid, Prompting, College Applicants, Community Programs, Federal Aid, State Federal Aid, Federal Programs, Student Attitudes, Student Behavior, College Enrollment, Program Effectiveness, Guidance Objectives, Guidance Programs |
| Abstract: | Do nudge interventions that have generated positive impacts at a local level maintain efficacy when scaled state or nationwide? What specific mechanisms explain the positive impacts of promising smaller-scale nudges? We investigate, through two randomized controlled trials, the impact of a national and state-level campaign to encourage students to apply for financial aid for college. The campaigns collectively reached over 800,000 students, with multiple treatment arms to investigate different potential mechanisms. We find no impacts on financial aid receipt or college enrollment overall or for any student subgroups. We find no evidence that different approaches to message framing, delivery, or timing, or access to one-on-one advising affected campaign efficacy. We discuss why nudge strategies that work locally may be hard to scale effectively. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED671001 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Do nudge interventions that have generated positive impacts at a local level maintain efficacy when scaled state or nationwide? What specific mechanisms explain the positive impacts of promising smaller-scale nudges? We investigate, through two randomized controlled trials, the impact of a national and state-level campaign to encourage students to apply for financial aid for college. The campaigns collectively reached over 800,000 students, with multiple treatment arms to investigate different potential mechanisms. We find no impacts on financial aid receipt or college enrollment overall or for any student subgroups. We find no evidence that different approaches to message framing, delivery, or timing, or access to one-on-one advising affected campaign efficacy. We discuss why nudge strategies that work locally may be hard to scale effectively. |
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