Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04458077

Discover Learning - Social, Emotional and Identity Learning for Very Young Adolescents

The primary aim of the Discover Learning Project (Discover) is to test an intervention for Very Young Adolescents (VYAs) to promote positive, gender norm transformative, social emotional and identity learning (SEIL). A secondary aim is to better identify effective components of Discover that are scalable requiring the lowest resources to implement

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Behavior, Adaptive Behavior Behavior, Child Behavior, Social Child Behavior Social Behavior

Age range

9 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Miburani Primary School, Dar es Salaam, Temeke, Tanzania

Loading trial locations.

About this study

This project builds on research from transdisciplinary developmental science that indicates that this period, which the investigators will call early adolescence (ages 10-14), is a period of dynamic maturational changes. These include the onset of pubertal development, which begins a period of rapid physical growth (including extensive brain development) and sexual maturation, as well as changes in cognitive, social, emotional, psychological, and behavioral processes. An emerging body of evidence supports the idea that this dynamic period of maturation is a sensitive period for social, emotional and motivational learning-in ways that can have enduring effects on a broad range of developmental trajectories including sexual and reproductive health, mental health, gender-based violence, education retention and attainment, and social development.

A foundational element of this research focuses on the social-emotional re-orientation of the developing brain at the onset of puberty, which appears to create natural affinities for discovery learning particularly in the social domain. In contrast to didactic learning models, discovery learning is a process through which learners engage in self-motivated inquiry, supported by teachers/facilitators, information and materials, in order to "discover" the intended content (Hammer, 1997). Key elements to creating sustainable discovery learning include: a) engaging motivation and natural curiosity and b) providing social scaffolding that includes a balance of monitoring/support while also promoting youth-driven discoveries (individually and in small groups). From a developmental science perspective, the beginning of puberty is associated with two important maturational changes that impact learning opportunities: 1) a general increase in the tendency to explore, discover, and to seek novelty/excitement; and 2) a particularly strong increase in natural curiosity to explore and understand one's larger social world, including social roles, social hierarchies, and an increased sensitivity to issues of social acceptance, admiration, and learning to establish key aspects of individual identity (Crone & Dahl, 2012). A core element to this early identity development is understanding oneself as a sexual and gendered individual in relation to those around her or him; accordingly, early learning experiences during this developmental window are fundamentally shaping the development of these identities in ways that have profound implications for all areas of health-especially sexual and reproductive health and vulnerability to gender-based exploitation and disadvantage.

The primary aim of this project is to develop and test the Discover Learning intervention with a goal of promoting positive, gender norm transformative, social-emotional learning during this crucial early window of opportunity. This work builds on developmentally informed principles that emphasize the importance of orchestrating a sensitive balance between promoting autonomy and providing adult engagement in ways that scaffold the discovery learning experience (Alifieri et al., 2011). The primary content (learning about interpersonal relationships and concepts of Social-Emotional Identity Learning) and method (introducing positive socially scaffolded exploration of the use of digital technology for youth-driven learning) have been chosen to strategically leverage this window of opportunity occurring during this sensitive period of learning. The approach is designed to help youth develop agency, become empowered, and to explore healthy pathways to finding meaning and purpose in their lives. To our knowledge, this is the first use of an integrative developmental science approach to leverage unique learning opportunities in early adolescence to impact broad improvements in health and education.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Boys and girls currently enrolled in school/intervention site
  • Ages 9-14

Exclusion criteria

  • n/a

Treatment and study plan

Discover Learning (SEIL)

Behavioral

This mobile-phone-based intervention will assess the effectiveness of 10 SEIL sessions conducted at the household level with VYAs. Activities were designed to be done individually, with siblings/peers, and with parents/caregivers. This intervention will look at how household composition and types of practice that can enhance SEIL learning.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Purpose from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from The Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (Mastrotheodoros & Motti-Stefanidi, 2017), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  2. Change in Emotional Self-Efficacy from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Adolescent Self Efficacy Questionnaire (Muris et.al, 2001), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (not at all) to 4 (very well) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  3. Change in Goal Orientation from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Goal Orientation Scale (Dowson and McInerney, 2004), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  4. Change in Persistence from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Persistence in Children (Lufi & Cohen, 1987), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  5. Change in Empathy from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Empathy (Overgaaw, et al, 2017), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (not true) to 2 (often true) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  6. Change in Internalizing Symptoms from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from African Youth Psychological Assessment (Betancourt, 2014), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (all the time) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  7. Change in Externalizing Symptoms from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from African Youth Psychological Assessment (Betancourt, 2014), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (all the time) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  8. Change in Academic Self-Efficacy from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Adolescent Self Efficacy Questionnaire (Muris et.al, 2001), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (not at all) to 4 (very well) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  9. Change in Curiosity from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Gender-free curiosity inventory (Reijo Byman, 2016), validated self-reported instrument in curiosity. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  10. Change in Teamwork from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Team Skills Index (Zhuang et al, 2008), validated self-reported instrument in curiosity. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (always) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  11. Change in Growth Mindset from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Dweck's Theories of Intelligence (Growth Mindset Scale) (Ingebrigsten, 2018), validated self-reported instrument in curiosity. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (always) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  12. Change in Outlook in Learning from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Dweck's Theories of Intelligence (Growth Mindset Scale) (Ingebrigsten, 2018), validated self-reported instrument in curiosity. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (always) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  13. Change in Technology Perceptions from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale (Rosen et al, 2013), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 3 (always) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  14. Change in Social Self-Efficacy from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Adolescent Self Efficacy Questionnaire (Muris et.al, 2001), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  15. Change in Prosocial Behavior from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from The Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (Mastrotheodoros & Motti-Stefanidi, 2017), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  16. Change in Gender Norms and Attitudes from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Discover Gender Norms and Attitudes Scale (under development), self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  17. Change in Generosity from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Interpersonal Generosity Scale (IGS) (Smith & Hill, 2009), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  18. Change in Utu from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from Utu (under development), self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree) Change = Endline - Baseline score

  19. Change in Bullying from baseline to end of intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and endline, measured before the intervention and after the intervention (6 weeks)

    Standardized survey from The Global School-Based Students Health Survey (GSHS), validated self-reported instrument. Possible scores range from 0 (No) to 1 (Yes) Change = Endline - Baseline score

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Berkeley

Other

Collaborators

  • Camara Education, Tanzania
  • Dalberg Global Development Advisors, Tanzania
  • Health for a Prosperous Nation
  • Save the Children
  • Ubongo Learning Limited

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jul 7, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 4, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.