Research Projects

Wheels of Change: Transforming Girls’ Lives with Bicycles

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Location: Southern Province, Zambia

Policy Partner: World Bicycle Relief and Ministry of General Education

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Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces and Policing: Experimental Evidence from Urban India

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Location: Hyderabad, India

Policy Partner: Hyderabad City Police

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Reimagining Education: Do Science Experiments Improve Human Capital?

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Location: Uttar Pradesh, India

Policy Partner: Agastya Foundation

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Debiasing Law Enforcement Officers: Evidence from an Expressive Arts Intervention in India

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Location: Bihar, India

Policy Partner: Bihar Police

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Sowing the Seeds of Entrepreneurship: Evaluating the Effects of Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program in Andhra Pradesh

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Location: Andhra Pradesh, India

Policy Partner: Department of Education, Andhra Pradesh

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Shame or Spirituality? What Works in Improving Waste Management in Urban India

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Location: Bihar, India

Policy Partner: Patna Municipal Corporation

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Can ‘Guilt’ Change Police Attitude towards Gender‑Based Violence?

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Location: Madhya Pradesh, India

Policy Partner: Madhya Pradesh Police

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Incentives and Access: A Large‑Scale COVID‑19 Vaccination Experiment in India

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Location: Bihar, India

Policy Partner: Health Department, Bihar

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Mental Health and Adolescent Schooling: Evidence from a Therapy Field Experiment in Nepal

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Location: Kailali, Kavre, and Surkhet, Nepal

Policy Partner: Centre for Mental Health Counselling

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Building Strong Foundations: Large-Scale Early Childhood Human Capital Formation in Nepal

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Location: Jhapa, Nepal

Policy Partner: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

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Cultivating Curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teachers Training Program

Abstract:

Curiosity and critical thinking are essential components of the learning process, enabling students to explore and evaluate information and ideas. By fostering curiosity and encouraging critical thinking, teachers can create a more engaging and effective learning environment that promotes deeper understanding and long-term retention of knowledge. To explore the role of curiosity and critical thinking in education, we have partnered with Chalees Minute Foundation to evaluate an innovative science teacher training program in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This program is designed to promote curiosity-based learning and a discussion-based curriculum, giving teachers new tools to inspire curiosity and creative thinking in their students. We will assess the effectiveness of this program in enhancing students’ human capital and identifying the pedagogical and psychological mechanisms that lead to improved learning outcomes. We aim to create a sustainable model for effective science education that can be scaled up across India and beyond.

Location: Uttar Pradesh, India

Policy Partner: District Administration, Sant Kabir Nagar

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Shaping Minds: The Transformative Effects of Theater-Based Learning

Abstract:

Despite progress in addressing barriers to human capital in the last two decades, significant learning gaps persist. A new line of research suggests that holistic skills have been associated with positive impacts on later life outcomes. However, there is little evidence supporting the effectiveness of existing traditional classroom-based instructional strategies in improving non-cognitive and socio-emotional skills. In this study, we conduct a randomized control trial in 100 schools in Uttarakhand, India to estimate the causal impacts of an experiential learning pedagogy in secondary schools. The curriculum consists of a total of 36 hours of arts and theater-based instruction spread over 24 weekly sessions. We will measure the impacts on cognitive skills (critical thinking and learning), social skills (class participation, network formation, communication skills, pro-sociality), and emotional skills (stress, anxiety, self-care, self-esteem).

Location: Uttrakhand, India

Policy Partner: Rang Kaarwaan

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Research Projects

Current Projects