Kizilcec et al., 2017, Experiment 1-Social-Belonging: Reflecting on stories about common challenges to belonging in the transition to a course doubled course persistence among students from less developed countries
Reference:
Kizilcec, R. F., Saltarelli, A. J., Reich, J., & Cohen, G. L. (2017). Closing global achievement gaps in MOOCs. Science, 355(6322), 251-252.
Download PDFSummary:
Students enrolled a massive open online course (MOOC) related to computer science completed a value-affirmation intervention modeled on Cohen et al., 2009 or a social-belonging intervention modeled on Walton & Cohen, 2011 embedded in the course. Among students from less-developed countries (e.g., India, Pakistan, Egypt), the interventions doubled course persistence (amount of course material studied). There was no effect for students from more developed countries.
Psychological Process:
Need
Need to BelongWhat Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
To Feel Connected, Included, Respected, and Valued by OthersHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Can people "like me" come to belong?Can people "like me" come to belong?Faciliating beliefs that sustain belonging in the face of challengesPsychological Question Addressed
Can people "like me" come to belong?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Education
Intervention Technique:
Increasing commitment through action, saying-is-believing