Questscope Non-Formal Education Impact Study (QSNFEIS)

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates the effectiveness of Questscope Non-Formal Education (QS NFE) on impacting psychosocial outcomes for out-of-school youth, ages 13-21, in Jordan. QS NFE is an empowerment-based education program. A unique agreement with the Jordanian Ministry of Education enables participating youth to receive a 10th-grade equivalent certificate upon successful completion of the 24-month non-formal education. The main components of QS NFE include retraining formal education teachers for fostering positive relationships with at-risk youth, asset-building learning and social activities, and a youth-driven learning environment.

The study hypothesis is that by engaging youth in positive relationships with local teachers and enabling the youth to drive the learning experience, the intervention will have positive impacts on general self-efficacy, social supports, social skills, and strengths and difficulties.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Education; Empowerment; Self-efficacy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Questscope Non-Formal Education

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates the effectiveness of Questscope Non-Formal Education (QS NFE) on impacting psychosocial outcomes for out-of-school youth, ages 13-21, in Jordan. QS NFE is an empowerment-based education program. A unique agreement with the Jordanian Ministry of Education enables participating youth to receive a 10th-grade equivalent certificate upon successful completion of the 24-month non-formal education. The main components of QS NFE include retraining formal education teachers for fostering positive relationships with at-risk youth, asset-building learning and social activities, and a youth-driven learning environment.

The study hypothesis is that by engaging youth in positive relationships with local teachers and enabling the youth to drive the learning experience, the intervention will have positive impacts on general self-efficacy, social supports, social skills, and strengths and difficulties.

Youth will be recruited according to normal Questscope recruitment procedures by program leaders in five poverty pocket communities in Amman, Jordan. Six QS NFE centers will be involved in the impact evaluation (four male centers and 2 female centers). Youth will be recruited, enrolled, and randomized on an individual basis until each NFE center's sample target is met (between 24 and 40 youth, depending on the center). The overall sample target is 200 for the six NFE centers aggregately (100 intervention group and 100 waitlist comparison). The study aims to recruit 54 females and 146 males.

Randomization will be conducted electronically using a random permuted block method through SealedEnvelope.com. Data collection for outcome measures will involve a computer-based, self-administered questionnaire designed with The Survey System software by Creative Research Systems. The computer-based survey will provide both text and audio to accommodate low literacy levels.

In the event that a participant rejects his/her random assignment within 48 hours of enrollment, the youth will be replaced in the study and will not be included in final data analysis. Additionally, all siblings recruited together into the study will be blocked and randomized together in enrollment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 200
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Jordan
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Al Mutasm School
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Al Urdan School
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Al Zubaidieh School
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Ali Reda Al Rekabi School
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Mauth Bin Jabal School
  • Amman, Jordan
    • Umama Bint Abi Al A'as

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 13 years to 21 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 13-18 males or 13-21 females
• out of the formal education system for more than six months

Exclusion Criteria:

• has already participated in QS NFE
• not in the above-specified age range

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Youth Club; The intervention will be compared to a waitlist comparison group. The group will enter NFE after the four-month posttest. During the four months, the youth will be offered a biweekly recreational youth club. The club will be led by Jordanian university student volunteers out of community-based organizations. Club activities will take place approximately every two weeks, including games, sports, arts and crafts, cultural activities, and trips. The Club will not include any significant education components or youth empowerment methodology--the hypothesized active ingredients of QS NFE.	Behavioral: Questscope Non-Formal Education; Participation in two-hour classes for three to five days per week. Duration involves 24 months of programming (three, eight-month learning cycles), but this randomized controlled trial will only assess impacts of participation in the first four months. Regular presence of trained, supportive adults. Educational topics and class activities determined by the youth as a group with the support of the adult teachers ("facilitators").
Experimental: Questscope Non-Formal Education; Participation in two-hour classes for three to five days per week. Duration involves 24 months of programming (three, eight-month learning cycles), but this randomized controlled trial will only assess impacts of participation in the first four months. Regular presence of trained, supportive adults. Educational topics and class activities determined by the youth as a group with the support of the adult teachers ("facilitators").	Behavioral: Questscope Non-Formal Education; Participation in two-hour classes for three to five days per week. Duration involves 24 months of programming (three, eight-month learning cycles), but this randomized controlled trial will only assess impacts of participation in the first four months. Regular presence of trained, supportive adults. Educational topics and class activities determined by the youth as a group with the support of the adult teachers ("facilitators").

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
self-reported general self-efficacy	pretest at enrollment (October 2009-January 2010) and 4 months following pretest
self-reported social skills	pretest at enrollment (October 2009-January 2010) and 4 months following pretest
self-reported strengths and difficulties	pretest at enrollment (October 2009-January 2010) and 4 months following pretest
self-reported social supports	pretest at enrollment (October 2009-January 2010) and 4 months following pretest

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oxford

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Wesbsite for Questscope, the organization implementing the intervention.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 23, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): October 26, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 4, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 3, 2011
• Last Verified: August 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: dropout youth in low income communities in Amman, Jordan
• Other Study ID Numbers: QS-001