Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • More
    • Feedback
    • Request JHR at your library
    • Research Highlights
  • Alerts
  • Special Issue
  • Other Publications
    • UWP

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Human Resources
  • Other Publications
    • UWP
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Human Resources

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • More
    • Feedback
    • Request JHR at your library
    • Research Highlights
  • Alerts
  • Special Issue
  • Follow uwp on Twitter
Research ArticleArticle

Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Parental Engagement

The Parents and Children Together Intervention

Susan E. Mayer, Ariel Kalil, Philip Oreopoulos and Sebastian Gallegos
Journal of Human Resources, October 2019, 54 (4) 900-925; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.54.4.0617.8835R
Susan E. Mayer
Susan E. Mayer is a professor and dean emeritus at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Ariel Kalil is a professor at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Philip Oreopoulos is a professorof economics and public policy at University of Toronto. Sebastian Gallegos is an economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Ariel Kalil
Susan E. Mayer is a professor and dean emeritus at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Ariel Kalil is a professor at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Philip Oreopoulos is a professorof economics and public policy at University of Toronto. Sebastian Gallegos is an economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Philip Oreopoulos
Susan E. Mayer is a professor and dean emeritus at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Ariel Kalil is a professor at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Philip Oreopoulos is a professorof economics and public policy at University of Toronto. Sebastian Gallegos is an economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sebastian Gallegos
Susan E. Mayer is a professor and dean emeritus at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Ariel Kalil is a professor at University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Philip Oreopoulos is a professorof economics and public policy at University of Toronto. Sebastian Gallegos is an economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Parental engagement plays a key role in children’s future success. We implemented a behaviorally informed field experiment designed to increase the time parents spend using a digital library on an electronic tablet to read to their children. Behavioral tools—reminders, goal setting, and social rewards—more than doubled the amount of time parents spent reading using the electronic application (one standard deviation effect size) after the six-week intervention. The largest gains were for the most present-oriented parents. Our findings suggest substantial promise for the application of behavioral tools to parenting activities that promote investment in children’s human capital.

JEL Classification
  • I28
  • D91
  • I38
  • D80
  • Received June 2017.
  • Accepted January 2018.

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Human Resources: 54 (4)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 54, Issue 4
2 Oct 2019
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Human Resources.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Parental Engagement
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Human Resources
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Human Resources web site.
Citation Tools
Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Parental Engagement
Susan E. Mayer, Ariel Kalil, Philip Oreopoulos, Sebastian Gallegos
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2019, 54 (4) 900-925; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.4.0617.8835R

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Parental Engagement
Susan E. Mayer, Ariel Kalil, Philip Oreopoulos, Sebastian Gallegos
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2019, 54 (4) 900-925; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.4.0617.8835R
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • The Impact of Prior Learning Assessments on College Completion and Financial Outcomes
  • How Far Is Too Far?
  • Effects of School Starting Age on the Family
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • I28
  • D91
  • I38
  • D80
UWP

© 2023 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Powered by HighWire