A Randomized Study to Evaluate the Effect of a Nudge via Weekly E-mails on Students’ Attitudes Toward Statistics

Abstract

Can a “nudge” toward engaging, fun, and useful material improve student attitudes toward statistics? We report on the results of a randomized study to assess the effect of a “nudge” delivered via a weekly E-mail digest on the attitudes of students enrolled in a large introductory statistics course taught in both flipped and fully online formats. Students were randomized to receive either a personalized weekly E-mail digest with course information and a “nudge” to read and explore interesting applications of statistics relevant to the weekly course material, or a generic course E-mail digest with the same course information, and no “nudge.” Our study found no evidence that “nudging” students to read and explore interesting applications of statistics resulted in better attitudes toward statistics. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.