Data and code for "Digital Information Provision and Behavior Change: Lessons from Six Experiments in East Africa"

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Raissa Fabregas, University of Texas-Austin; Michael Kremer, University of Chicago; Matthew Lowes, Independent Researcher; Robert On, The Agency Fund; Giulia Zane, International Management Water Institute

Version: View help for Version V1

Name	File Type	Size	Last Modified
Replication Package 2024			12/18/2024 08:07:AM

Project Citation:

Fabregas, Raissa, Kremer, Michael, Lowes, Matthew, On, Robert, and Zane, Giulia. Data and code for “Digital Information Provision and Behavior Change: Lessons from Six Experiments in East Africa.” Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2024. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2024-12-18. https://doi.org/10.3886/E186241V1

Project Description

Summary: While some studies suggest mobile phone-based information programs change behavior, others find no effect. We evaluate six text-message agricultural extension programs, collectively covering 128,000 farmers. A meta-analysis finds a 1.22-fold increase in the odds of adoption of recommended practices (95% CI: 1.16,1.29). We cannot reject similar impacts across experiments. Impacts are increased by message repetition, but not by providing more granular information, using behavioral framings, or complementing texts with phone calls. There is little evidence of message fatigue or crowd-out. Despite modest absolute impacts detectable only with large samples or a meta-analysis, texts are inexpensive enough to be cost-effective. The accompanying files provide guidance, data, and code to replicate the analysis.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: randomized control trials

JEL Classification:
D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products

Geographic Coverage: Rwanda, Kenya

Time Period(s): 7/1/2015 – 12/1/2019

Collection Date(s): 7/1/2015 – 12/1/2019 (SR 2015, SR/LR 2017, LR 2017, LR 2018, LR 2019)

Universe: Smallholder farmers in Kenya and Rwanda.

Data Type(s): administrative records data; experimental data; geographic information system (GIS) data; survey data

Methodology

Response Rate: The response rate varied by each experiment and type of data. See the journal article for details.

Sampling: We combine six different experiments with smallholder farmers in Kenya and Rwanda. Sampling strategies varied by each experiment. See the journal article for details.

Data Source: Survey data was collected by the authors. One acre fund provided administrative data.

Unit(s) of Observation: Individuals

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Published Versions

V1 [2024-12-18]

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