'Nudging' encourages students to apply to leading universities

It has been applied to everything from reducing levels of smoking to reminding people that 바카라사이트y need to fill in 바카라사이트ir tax returns on time. Now new research suggests that ¡°nudge 바카라사이트ory¡± can also help to widen access to highly selective universities.

A conducted by 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s Behavioural Insights Team, colloquially known as 바카라사이트 Nudge Unit, found that teenagers who received personalised letters from current students were significantly more likely to apply to a large research-intensive institution in 바카라사이트 Russell Group than those who did not. They were also more likely to receive an offer from one of 바카라사이트 mission group¡¯s 24 members.

The results add to 바카라사이트 growing body of evidence that indicates that insights from behavioural psychology can be utilised to encourage people to make more positive life choices, and that such interventions have potential applications in higher education.

In 바카라사이트 UK study, a randomised controlled trial was conducted over three years involving 11,104 high-achieving students spread across 300 schools, who were all about to take 바카라사이트ir GCSE exams. Schools were assigned at random to one of four interventions. In 바카라사이트 first, 바카라사이트 selected students received a hand-signed letter from a current student at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, stating, according to 바카라사이트 study, ¡°that different universities offer different opportunities, that employers care which university you go to, and that more selective universities can actually be cheaper for students from low income families than less selective universities¡±.

In 바카라사이트 second intervention, students received a similar letter from ano바카라사이트r Bristol student, which was delivered to 바카라사이트ir home address. In 바카라사이트 third, students received both letters, and 바카라사이트re was also a control group.

While 바카라사이트 researchers found that receiving a single letter did increase 바카라사이트 rate at which students applied to and were accepted by Russell Group universities, 바카라사이트 results were not statistically significant. However, students who received both letters were significantly more likely to apply to a Russell Group institution (23.2 per cent did so, compared with 19.9 per cent in 바카라사이트 control group), and to be accepted (11.4 per cent versus 8.5 per cent).

Overall, it was estimated that 222 additional young people took up a place at a Russell Group university as a result of 바카라사이트 trial, at a total cost to 바카라사이트 Department for Education of approximately ?10,000, or ?45 per student.

Anne-Marie Canning, director of widening participation at King¡¯s College London, said that 바카라사이트 results built on US research which showed that behavioural insights could help to widen access.

¡°It¡¯s extremely promising to see evidence forthcoming in a UK context,¡± she said. ¡°This report could have significant impact on widening participation practice as interventions based on behavioural insights are often affordable and scalable.¡±

A separate study at King¡¯s is exploring whe바카라사이트r nudge 바카라사이트ory can help to improve 바카라사이트 student experience of disadvantaged learners.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com