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The effects of parental involvement in homework. Two randomised controlled trials in financial education

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  • Joana Elisa Maldonado
  • Kristof De Witte
  • Koen Declercq

Abstract

Based on two randomised controlled trials with a total of 2,779 students from grade 8 and 9 in Flanders, we provide causal evidence on the effects of parental involvement on students’ learning in a financial education course. Using an experimental design with three treatment groups, the impact of parental involvement in homework is distinguished from the standalone impact of the classroom intervention and homework itself. Intention-to-treat analysis reveals that the intervention effectively improves students’ knowledge and behaviour. The classroom intervention used in conjugation with a homework assignment that the students complete with the help of their parents increases financial literacy scores by 0.37 standard deviations. On average, the added value of involving parents in homework is not significant, but involving parents has significant positive effects on behaviour for disadvantaged students. As a potential underlying mechanism it is observed that the parental involvement intervention significantly increases family communication between students and parents about the course topics.

Suggested Citation

  • Joana Elisa Maldonado & Kristof De Witte & Koen Declercq, 2019. "The effects of parental involvement in homework. Two randomised controlled trials in financial education," Working Papers of LEER - Leuven Economics of Education Research 645427, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), LEER - Leuven Economics of Education Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:ete:leerwp:645427
    Note: paper number DPS19.14
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Literacy; Parental Involvement; Randomised Controlled Trial; Education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy
    • A21 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Pre-college

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