Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) represent a robust approach to testing whether a policy or programme works. They involve allocating learners, classes or organisations at random to either a new initiative in teaching or to a control group.  If you are allocated to a control group, you will not be asked to deliver the intervention but would be expected to follow your business-as-usual practices and of course will still play crucial role in the trial. Outcomes for learners, such as course completion or exam results, are then compared to see if a significant difference has been made. The random allocation to treatment or control groups means that other factors that could influence learner outcomes are controlled for so researchers can be confident that changes in learner outcomes are due to the intervention being tested.

Quasi-Experimental Trials (QEDs) are similar to RCTs in that they involve comparing the outcomes of learners who have received the intervention being tested with those who have not. However, the key difference is that allocation to treatment or control groups is not random. Rather, the control group is identified from the wider population of providers or learners who have not received the intervention but who have similar characteristics to those who have. Known differences between treatment and control groups are then accounted for in the analysis. If you are recruited to take part in a QED trial, you will not be randomly allocated to treatment or control groups – you will be assigned to the treatment group and expected to deliver the intervention being tested.

The findings from the trials will be used to inform decision-making about where investment in adult numeracy is best made to really make a difference for adults and communities. Participation also offers an opportunity for you to play a key role in shaping future government policy.

Firstly, you’ll be making a real difference to adult learners who want to improve their confidence with numbers. You’ll be supporting your local community by ensuring that they are represented within the research and adding to the knowledge of what works.

For those already involved in Multiply core delivery this provides an opportunity for you to grow and enhance your provision to reach more adult learners.

If you’re part of the treatment group, you’ll be equipped with a promising approach to enhancing learning. And if you’re part of the control group, you’ll receive early notice of what has worked well.

Similarly, you can be sure that any fully funded training associated with the trial offers first class CPD

Your organisation will benefit from additional administrative funding to enable you to partake in the trials.

There is no obligation for you to take part, but we really hope that you will as we know this is going to be ground-breaking research which will make a difference looking forward.

This is a rare opportunity to participate in a large-scale research project which will make a difference to the future provision of adult numeracy learning, as well as inform future investment in adult skills more generally.

We don’t want to create lots of additional work or bureaucracy for you and will make taking part in any trial as easy as possible.

In general terms, you will be randomly allocated to either a treatment group or a control group.

• If you’re allocated to the treatment group, the full details of the specific trial will be shared with you in good time with all expectations clearly laid out. These are likely to include:
  • Training in the initiative. This will be fully funded first-class CPD and dates will be shared with you well in advance.
  • Delivering the intervention as specified.
  • Collecting attendance data and any other specific information detailed to inform the evaluation of the trial.
  • Participating in research activities to inform an implementation and process evaluation, such as surveys and interviews, so we can understand how you felt about delivering the product/intervention, if you thought it was useful and any learning you can share to inform future roll out.

If you are allocated to the control group, you will not receive the intervention but would be expected to follow business as usual, collect attendance data and any other specific information required to inform the evaluation of the trial. This will all be clearly specified at the outset of the trial and in the accompanying documentation.

Only promising initiatives will be tested through the Randomised Controlled Trials and Quasi-Experimental Trials and so we are hopeful that your learners will benefit from taking part. If they’re in the control group, they will not be affected by participating in the trial and will proceed with their learning as normal, where applicable.

Learners recruited to treatment or control groups will be provided with full information on the trial, the purpose of the research and how their data will be collected, stored, and used. Learners will be made aware that unless they explicitly opt-out of being part of the trial, their data will be used for research in a way that will preserve their confidentiality and anonymity. Their data will be used to track outcomes through secondary datasets (such as attainment). They will also be invited to take part in pre and post intervention surveys and may be invited to take part on other research activities, such as interviews. Their data will not be used for any other purpose than to evaluate the interventions being tested.

Learners will also be made aware that they can withdraw their consent at any time during research and data collection and how to do that. Learners in the treatment group who opt-out of being part of the trial will still be given access to the intervention being tested. All information for learners will be provided in the clearest possible way so that they understand what they are signing up to.