[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# New Hope for Policy Schools

Examining systems thinking solutions to improve policy education

## Details

**Authors** Aljrarri W, Bustamante J, Ingwell A, Labrada T, Nadig B, Shin J, Cabrera, and Cabrera

**Year** 2024

**Publisher** Journal of Systems Thinking

**Kind of work** article

**Reading level** intermediate

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.00000101) 
10.54120/jost.00000101

## In authors' words

### Abstract

A quasi-experimental study of whether a one-to-two minute video teaching a single structural move changes how people approach a realistic policy problem. N = 988, 1,976 observations. Each arm was scored for whether that specific move appeared in the response.

### What they found (results)

Odds ratios: Is/Is Not 5.517, Zoom In/Out 2.668, Part Party 2.474, RDS Barbell 5.085, Perspective Circle 4.740, all p < 0.01. With demographic controls the effects grow rather than shrink. Aggregate base rate rose from 14.47% to 39.17%.

## Commentary

### Response

Move-specific rather than general improvement, since each arm was scored for its own move. The limits are stated plainly in the paper: no control arm anywhere, binary coding by a language model, immediate post-test only, and treatment order uncounterbalanced.

## Studies reported in this

- Dio List (Is/Is Not) (N = 394)
- Part Party (N = 396)
- Perspective Circle (N = 400)
- RDS Barbell (N = 396)
- Zoom In / Zoom Out (N = 390)

## Questions it bears on

- Q5. [Does the same organization (O) hold across every domain and scale?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/scale-generality)
- Q17. [What is transfer (T)?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/transfer)
- Q23. [Can people become more mentally fit?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/fitness-can-increase)
- Q24. [Does awareness of organization (O) increase mental fitness?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/o-awareness-works)
- Q25. [Does practice in organization (O) increase mental fitness?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/o-practice-works)
- Q28. [Does improving mental fitness improve outcomes?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/fitness-improves-outcomes)

**How to cite this** Aljrarri W, Bustamante J, Ingwell A, Labrada T, Nadig B, Shin J, Cabrera, and Cabrera (2024). New Hope for Policy Schools: Examining systems thinking solutions to improve policy education. Journal of Systems Thinking.