A0837
Title: A causal investigation of heterogeneity in mediation mechanisms in multisite randomized trials
Authors: Xu Qin - University of Pittsburgh (United States) [presenting]
Abstract: Multisite randomized trials have been pervasive in the past three decades. The importance of investigating the variation in the total impact of an intervention has become increasingly valued. An intervention may generate heterogeneous impacts due to natural variations in participant characteristics, context, and local implementation. Important research questions include whether the intervention impact is generalizable across individuals and contexts, for whom and under what contexts the intervention is effective, and why. To advance this line of research, a method is developed to assess the mediation mechanism underlying the total impact of the intervention in multisite randomized trials and how it varies by individual and contextual factors. The findings may help practitioners improve and tailor intervention designs and implementations for different individuals and contexts. The method is evaluated through comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations. It is also applied to the National Study of Learning Mindsets to evaluate the mediation mechanism underlying the impact of a growth mindset intervention on math performance and its heterogeneity.
