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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| The RIDGE Project | UNKNOWN |
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This study uses an RCT design with repeated measures to test the impact of two different delivery formats for the TYRO Couples curriculum. Eligible study participants are males or females who are at least 18 years of age and within 9 months of release from incarceration. Incarcerated participants randomly assigned to the treatment group receive the TYRO Couples curriculum in-person, whereas those assigned to the comparison group experience an on-demand format. Study results that show no discernable differences in outcomes between groups will make it easier to serve more participants because service delivery formats can accommodate different life circumstances and preferences.
The TYRO Couples curriculum Is based upon the Couples Communication curriculum, and was developed by a Christian, non-profit organization in Ohio called The RIDGE Project. The purpose of TYRO Couples is to provide training and opportunities for participants from families affected by the incarceration of a father to practice healthy relationship skills that build a foundation for healthy and successful marriages and lifelong partnerships. Curriculum components also address healthy financial and employment skills. Previous research suggests the TYRO Couples curriculum is efficacious in increasing skills related to: relationship building, couples communication, conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction.
Typically, TYRO Couples is delivered in-person in a classroom setting. Using an in-person format results in a more personal, organic experience for participants but it requires a commitment that is difficult for some of them are unable to make because of the time and effort that is necessary to meet in a specific place for a predetermined amount of time. On-line access does not offer the same experience as in-person service delivery, but it does offer greater accessibility for participants to learn at their own pace in a self-directed learning environment of their own choosing. In theory, both formats offer program participants different types of access to service delivery and it is not clear if there is a disparate impact on the educational outcomes that define program benefits, which are improved attitudes, expectations and behaviors that promote healthy family relationships and economic stability for their households.
Testing the delivery format of TYRO Couples is important for several reasons. First, more research is needed to better understand which prison-based learning methods are more effective on marriage/intimate partner relationship and economic stability outcomes. Although there are some previous studies of best practices for prison-based learning, there are no studies, to our knowledge, that examine the effectiveness of on-demand learning on relationship and economic outcomes among couples affected by incarceration. Second, previous studies suggest that on-demand learning can be a helpful tool that empowers learners to digest the course material at their own pace. Learner control is a theory that derives from several motivational theory underpinnings, which includes attribution theory, motivation theory, and information processing theory. Previous research guided by learner control theory suggests that self-guided, on-demand learning is positively related to greater learner satisfaction and higher levels of learning compared with those who did not use this format.
Therefore, it is important that effective, prison-based learning methods are identified and used so that program participants can experience the most robust relationships and economic stability outcomes. Informed by the self-efficacy and learner control theory, the purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which TYRO Couples training delivered in an on-demand format has a disparate impact compared to in-person services on marriage/intimate partner relationships and economic stability outcomes among couples facing incarceration.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment-On Demand Format | Experimental | Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
|
| Control-Virtual or In-Person Format | Experimental | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services | Other | Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Outcome Measure 1: Employment Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on employment attitudes six-months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the four survey items together and were divided by four. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable. | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
| Primary Outcome Measure 2: Healthy Financial Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on financial attitudes six months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the three survey items together and were divided by three. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1-which is most favorable, the highest someone can score is 5. | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Outcome Measure 1: Partner Relationship Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on partner relationship attitudes and expectations immediately after program completion?
Subscales were formed to add the eight survey items together and were divided by eight. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable). |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Matt D Shepherd, PhD | Midwest Evaluation & Research | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The RIDGE Project | McClure | Ohio | 43534 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Allred, S. L., Harrison, L. D., & O'Connell, D. J. (2013). Self-Efficacy: An important aspect of prison-based learning. The Prison Journal, 93(2), 211 - 233. doi:10.1177/0032885512472964 | ||
| 847061 | Background | Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1977 Mar;84(2):191-215. doi: 10.1037//0033-295x.84.2.191. No abstract available. | |
| Background | Chou, S., & Liu, C. (2005). Learning effectiveness in a web-based virtual learning environment: A learner-control perspective. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 21(1), 65 - 76. | ||
| Background | Cohen, J. 1988. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition. Routledge. |
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All participant data will be confidential and aggregated. No individual participant data will be released unless requested by the courts. This study looks at data as a whole.
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The only reason a participant would be excluded from the study after enrollment but before study assignment was if he/she did not provide consent to participate in the evaluation. Or, if he/she provided consent, then decided to revoke consent.
Participants were recruited from prisons within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC).
Enrollment took place between April 11, 2023, and continued through November 30, 2024
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FG000 | Treatment-On Demand Format | Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services: Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| FG001 | Control-Virtual or In-Person Format | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services: Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| Title | Milestones | Reasons Not Completed | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study |
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BG000 | Treatment-On Demand Format | Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services: Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| Units | Counts |
|---|---|
| Participants |
|
| Title | Description | Population Description | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Denominator Units Selected | Denominators | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical | Count of Participants |
| Type | Title | Description | Population Description | Reporting Status | Anticipated Posting Date | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Time Frame | Units Analyzed | Denominator Units Selected | Arm/Group Information | Denominators | Classes | Analyses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Primary Outcome Measure 1: Employment Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on employment attitudes six-months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the four survey items together and were divided by four. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable. | 111 participants completed the required survey items for this measure in the treatment group; 114 in the control group. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on subscale | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
|
six months through study completion
The definition of adverse events does not differ from the clinicaltrials.gov definitions.
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| ID | Title | Description | Deaths (Affected) | Deaths (At Risk) | Serious Events (Affected) | Serious Events (At Risk) | Other Events (Affected) | Other Events (At Risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG000 | Treatment-On Demand Format | Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services: Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
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| Title | Organization | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Evaluation and Research | Midwest Evaluation and Research | 620-208-6143 | mer@midwestevaluation.com |
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot_SAP | Yes | Yes | No | Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan | Aug 22, 2024 | Jul 1, 2025 | Prot_SAP_000.pdf |
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Treatment vs. Control Group Standard services delivered as primary services to participants in both study groups under a shared condition are: 20 hours of TYRO Dads curricula and 6 hours of Core Communication curricula. Optional services available to both study groups by selecting 1-3 hours of coursework from menu of courses that address a variety of needs.
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| Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services | Other | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
|
| baseline to immediately after program completion, up to 5 weeks |
| Primary Outcome Measure 2: Relationship With Partner Behaviors | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on partner relationship behaviors six months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the seven survey items together and were divided by seven. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable). | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
| Background | Foster, H., & Hagan, J. (2009). The Mass Incarceration of Parents in America: Issues of Race/ Ethnicity, Collateral Damage to Children, and Prisoner Reentry. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 623(1), 179-194. doi:10.1177/0002716208331123 |
| 20300482 | Background | Frisco ML, Muller C, Frank K. Parents' Union Dissolution and Adolescents' School Performance: Comparing Methodological Approaches. J Marriage Fam. 2007 Aug 1;69(3):721-741. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00402.x. |
| Background | Johnson, B., Wubbenhorst, W., Schroeder, C., & Corcoran, K. E. (2014). Stronger Families, Stronger Society: An Analysis of the RIDGE Project, Inc. Baylor University. Waco, TX: Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. |
| Background | La Vigne, N. G., Naser, R., Brooks, L. E., & Castro, J. L. (2005, November). Examining the effect of incarceration and in-prison. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(4), 314 - 335. doi:10.1177/1043986205281727 |
| Background | Miller, S. L., Nunnally, E. W., & Wackman, D. B. (1976). A communication training program for couples. Social Casework, 57(1), 9 - 18. |
| Background | Ribar, D. C. (2015). Why marriage matters for child wellbeing. The Future of Children, 25(2), 11-27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2015.0010 |
| Background | Shepherd, M. (2011). A statistical Analysis of Client Data from the Keeping Families and Inmates Together in Harmony (Keeping FAITH) Program for the RIDGE Project. Emporia, KS: Midwest Evaluation and Research. |
| 25598544 | Background | Siennick SE, Stewart EA, Staff J. EXPLAINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INCARCERATION AND DIVORCE. Criminology. 2014 Aug;52(3):371-398. doi: 10.1111/1745-9125.12040. |
| Background | Visher, C. A., Debus-Sherrill, D., & Yahner, J. (2011). Employment after prison: A longitudinal study of former prisoners. Justice Quarterly, 28(5), 698 - 718. doi:10.1080/07418825.2010.535553 |
| 26421345 | Background | Western B, Braga AA, Davis J, Sirois C. Stress and Hardship after Prison. AJS. 2015 Mar;120(5):1512-47. doi: 10.1086/681301. |
| Background | Wildeman, C. (2014). How the criminal justice system shapes social inequality and the capacity of citizens: Parental Incarceration, child homelessness, and the invisible consequences of mass imprisonment. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 651(1), 74-296. |
| BG001 | Control-Virtual or In-Person Format | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services: Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| BG002 | Total | Total of all reporting groups |
| Participants |
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| Age, Continuous | Mean | Full Range | years |
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| Sex: Female, Male | Count of Participants | Participants |
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| Race (NIH/OMB) | Count of Participants | Participants |
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| Region of Enrollment | Count of Participants | Participants |
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| Treatment-On Demand Format |
Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services: Treatment group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in an on-demand format that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
| OG001 | Control-Virtual or In-Person Format | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services: Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. |
|
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| Primary | Primary Outcome Measure 2: Healthy Financial Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on financial attitudes six months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the three survey items together and were divided by three. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1-which is most favorable, the highest someone can score is 5. | 114 participants in the treatment group responded to the survey items for this measure; 96 in the control group. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on scale | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
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|
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| Secondary | Secondary Outcome Measure 1: Partner Relationship Attitudes | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on partner relationship attitudes and expectations immediately after program completion?
Subscales were formed to add the eight survey items together and were divided by eight. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable). | 27 participants in the treatment group responded to the survey items for this measure; 25 in the control group. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on scale | baseline to immediately after program completion, up to 5 weeks |
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| Secondary | Primary Outcome Measure 2: Relationship With Partner Behaviors | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on partner relationship behaviors six months after enrollment?
Subscales were formed to add the seven survey items together and were divided by seven. The subscale ranges from 1-5 (the lowest someone can score is 1, the highest someone can score is 5-which is most favorable). | 44 participants in the treatment group responded to survey items in this measure; 47 in the control group. It was not required to be in a relationship to be in the study, so there was a very low completion rate for this measure. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on a scale | baseline to 6-month follow-up |
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| 0 |
| 820 |
| 0 |
| 820 |
| 0 |
| 820 |
| EG001 | Control-Virtual or In-Person Format | Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services: Control group participants receive TYRO Couples curriculum in a live format (virtual or in-person) that is delivered in five 2-hour weekly sessions for a total of 10 hours. | 0 | 820 | 0 | 820 | 0 | 820 |
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