Institutions, implementation, and program effectiveness: Evidence from a randomized evaluation of computer-assisted learning in rural China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Mo, Di; Bai, Yu; Shi, Yaojiang; Abbey, Cody; Zhang, Linxiu; Rozelle, Scott; Loyalka, Prashant
• 署名单位: Stanford University; Shaanxi Normal University; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, CAS
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2020.102487
• 发表日期: 2020
• 关键词: Computer-assisted learning; education; External validity of program; Implementation by government; randomized controlled trial

摘要

There is limited evidence on the degree to which differences in implementation among institutions matter for program effectiveness. To examine this question, we conducted an experiment in rural China in which public schools were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a computer-assisted learning program (CAL) implemented by a government agency, the same program implemented by an NGO, and a pure control. Results show that compared to the pure control condition and unlike the NGO program, the government program did not improve student achievement. Analyzing impacts along the causal chain, we find that government officials were more likely to substitute CAL for regular instruction (contrary to protocol) and less likely to directly monitor program progress. Correlational analyses suggest that these differences in program implementation were responsible for the lack of impacts.