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Research ArticleArticle

More Than Just a Nudge

Supporting Kindergarten Parents with Differentiated and Personalized Text Messages

Christopher Doss, Erin M. Fahle, Susanna Loeb and Benjamin N. York
Journal of Human Resources, July 2019, 54 (3) 567-603; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.54.3.0317-8637R
Christopher Doss
Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Erin Fahle is an Assistant Professor of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at the School of Education at St. John’s University. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies.
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Erin M. Fahle
Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Erin Fahle is an Assistant Professor of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at the School of Education at St. John’s University. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies.
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Susanna Loeb
Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Erin Fahle is an Assistant Professor of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at the School of Education at St. John’s University. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies.
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Benjamin N. York
Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Erin Fahle is an Assistant Professor of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at the School of Education at St. John’s University. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies.
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Abstract

Recent studies show that texting-based interventions can produce educational benefits in children across a range of ages. We study effects of a text-based program for parents of kindergarten children, distinguishing a general program from one adding differentiation and personalization based on each child’s developmental level. Children in the differentiated and personalized program were 63 percent more likely to read at a higher level (p < 0.001) compared to the general group, and their parents reported engaging more in literacy activities. Effects were driven by children further from average levels of baseline development, indicating that the effects likely stemmed from text content.

JEL Classification
  • C93
  • D91
  • I21
  • Received March 2017.
  • Accepted November 2017.
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Journal of Human Resources: 54 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 54, Issue 3
1 Jul 2019
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More Than Just a Nudge
Christopher Doss, Erin M. Fahle, Susanna Loeb, Benjamin N. York
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2019, 54 (3) 567-603; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0317-8637R

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More Than Just a Nudge
Christopher Doss, Erin M. Fahle, Susanna Loeb, Benjamin N. York
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2019, 54 (3) 567-603; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0317-8637R
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Background
    • III. The Intervention
    • IV. Data and Empirical Strategy
    • V. Main Results
    • VI. Heterogeneity of Results
    • VII. Comparisons with the First Year of the Program
    • VIII. Robustness Checks
    • IX. Discussion and Conclusions
    • Footnotes
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Keywords

  • C93
  • D91
  • I21
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