# The I-ACTED study (investigating action civics training through an experimental design): a cluster randomized controlled trial of a school-based action civics education intervention on adolescent wellbeing

## TL;DR

This study examines how action civics education affects adolescent wellbeing and civic outcomes through a school-based randomized trial in the USA.

## Contribution

It is one of the first randomized controlled trials to assess the impact of action civics curricula on student wellbeing and civic outcomes.

## Key findings

- The study will measure the effects of action civics on civic and wellbeing outcomes in middle and high school students.
- It will explore mechanisms through which action civics may influence student wellbeing, such as civic connection and empowerment.

## Abstract

Observational studies have found that youth civic engagement is associated with positive mental health, education, and socioeconomic outcomes. However, access to civic opportunities is not evenly distributed. Many classrooms in the United States of America (USA) do not have access to high-quality civics education. Action civics approaches to civic education prepare students for civic engagement by developing the necessary civic skills, knowledge, and character. Through action civics, classes take action on a real-world issue students choose together. Some evidence suggests that action civics may positively affect participants’ wellbeing through the feelings of civic connection and empowerment. The aim of this study is to investigate, through a randomized controlled trial, the impact of a school-based action civics education intervention on civic and wellbeing outcomes, and the mechanisms of any impact observed, among middle and high school students in the USA.

This study uses a cluster-randomized trial with a waitlist-control design. We are randomizing at the school level, implementing the intervention at the teacher/classroom level, and measuring outcomes at the student level. We are recruiting social studies, civics, government, and related subject teachers, across both middle and high schools, from across the USA, leveraging network ties and referrals to invite teachers/schools to participate. We aim to recruit a sample of around 1,500 students. Intervention group teachers will receive action civics curricular resources they can incorporate into their regular teaching, while the control group will not receive the curricular resources until 12 months later and will continue with their teaching as planned. Students will fill out surveys at the beginning and end of the semester, and will be invited to complete a survey six months later. Surveys will assess civic, wellbeing, demographic, and other related variables.

This study is one of the first randomized controlled trials to assess the impacts of action civics curricular materials on civic and wellbeing outcomes. The study will strengthen our understanding of the impacts of action civics education, with implications for the quality and adoption of civic curricula nationwide.

NCT04514133 (date of registration September 25, 2020).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-24838-y.