AG Heinzelmann, 07.02.2025 Self-regulation Training in Primary Schools and Academic Achievements: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Children’s self-regulation abilities are key predictors of educational success and other life outcomes such as income and health. However, self-regulation is not a school subject, and knowledge about how to generate lasting improvements in self-regulation and academic achievements with easily scalable, low-cost interventions is still limited. I present the design and results of a randomized controlled field study which integrates a short self-regulation teaching unit based on the concept of mental contrasting with implementation intentions into the school curriculum of first graders. We discuss the effects of the training on academic achievements and show that the self-regulation unit can be integrated into the regular school curriculum at low cost and is easily scalable. The presentation will also include the design of a replication study of the self-regulation intervention.

Daniel Schunk

Prof. Dr. Daniel Schunk is a Professor of Economics at the University of Mainz and a Research Fellow at the Federal Institute for Population Research and CESifo. He earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Mannheim. His research, supported by major institutions such as the German National Science Foundation and the Volkswagen Foundation, focuses on behavioral economics and public policy. He is also the founder and Co-Director of the Mainz Behavioral and Experimental Laboratory (MABELLA) and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.

Note that talks (but not Q+A) may be recorded.