Title

A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of Booktime Northern Ireland: A Book Gifting Intervention for Reception-Aged Children

Research Team

Professor Paul Connolly (PI), Dr Liam O’Hare & Denise Mitchell

Timescale

July 2011 – January 2012

Funder

Booktrust

Aims and Objectives

A rigorous and independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the Booktime book-gifting intervention as delivered in Northern Ireland for Reception-Aged Children (Primary One). The evaluation consisted of three elements:

• A cluster randomized controlled trial involving 30 primary schools recruited from across Northern Ireland to ascertain the impact of the programme on the reading and literacy habits of parents/carers and children;
• An assessment of the educational value and appropriateness of the Booktime Pack for children aged 4-5 years; and
• Telephone interviews with key stakeholders to ascertain their perspectives on and experiences of the programme. Interviewees included: five teachers; five parents; four representatives from Education and Library Boards; and one representative from a public library.          

 

Methodology

A total of 30 schools were recruited during the 2011/12 academic year to the trial, with similar numbers from each of the five Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland. There were a total of 736 children eligible for the study in these schools.

Once recruited, the schools were then randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. Prior to the distribution of the Booktime Packs, all parents/carers were asked to complete a questionnaire which was distributed through their child’s class teacher. Once the questionnaires were completed, those 15 schools in the intervention group were then given Booktime Packs to distribute to all of their reception age (Primary One) children while the remaining 15 schools in the control group continued as normal. Eight weeks later, the parents were asked to complete a second questionnaire. Once the second questionnaires were collected, the 15 schools in the control group received the Booktime Packs.

Outputs

The final report will soon be available on the CEE website.

This is one of several evaluation studies of free Bookgifting programmes conducted by the Centre for Effective Education. See also ‘Bookstart+’ and ‘Booktime England’. More information is available from Dr Liam O’Hare