TYRO Couples Project Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Impact Evaluation of the TYRO Couples Project

Conditions
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Couples

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services
* Other: Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Male or Female Adult (age 18 and older) Incarcerated Within 9 months of release in OH Exclusion Criteria: Minor (under the age of 18) Not incarcerated Incarcerated but not within 9 months of release in OH

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 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.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment-On Demand Format<br>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. | Other: Intervention #1: Treatment Group Receiving On-Demand TYRO Services<br>* 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.<br>|
| Experimental: Control-Virtual or In-Person Format<br>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. | Other: Intervention #2: Control Group Receiving In-Person TYRO Services<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Outcome Measure 1: partner relationship behavior | What is the impact of on-demand delivery (treatment) compared to in-person delivery of the TYRO Couples curriculum (control) on partner relationship behaviors one year after enrollment? 7 survey items measure the reported frequency the respondent engaged in a series of healthy behaviors with a partner using categories on a 7-point partner relationship behavior scale (1 'Never', 2 'Rarely', 3 'Sometimes', 4 'Often', 5 'Always'). Lower scores on all items are positive (ex. - How often do you and your partner disagree about religious matters?) | change from baseline to 12-month follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | 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 one year after enrollment? 8 survey items measure the reported frequency of agreement with healthy partner relationship attitudes on a 5-point partner relationship attitudes scale (1 'Strongly Disagree', 2 'Disagree', 3 'Neither Agree Nor Disagree', 4 'Agree', 5 'Strongly Agree'). Higher scores on all items are positive (ex. - I want to grow old with my partner.) | change from baseline to 12-month follow-up | 
| Secondary Outcome Measure 2: 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 one year after enrollment? 4 survey items measure the reported frequency of agreement with key co-parenting behaviors using categories on a 5-point scale (1 'Strongly Disagree', 2 'Disagree', 3 'Neither Agree Nor Disagree', 4 'Agree', 5 'Strongly Agree'). Higher scores on 5 items are positive (ex. - I can overcome almost any challenge to get a decent job.) | change from baseline to 12-month follow-up | 
| Secondary Outcome Measure 3: 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 one year after enrollment? 3 survey items measure the reported agreement for key financial attitudes using categories on a 5-point employment attitudes scale (1 'Strongly Disagree', 2 'Disagree', 3 'Neither Agree Nor Disagree', 4 'Agree', 5 'Strongly Agree'). Higher scores on 3 items are negative (ex. - I am overwhelmed when I think about my financial situation.) | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion |