Science on the Move: How Experiential Pedagogy Shapes Human Capital

Nitin Bharti (), Samreen Malik (), Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay () and Nishith Prakash ()
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Nitin Bharti: University of Western Australia
Samreen Malik: New York University, Abu Dhabi
Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay: Indian Statistical Institute
Nishith Prakash: Northeastern University

No 18677, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: Despite near-universal school enrollment across many developing economies, the provision of quality education that cultivates lifelong learning and the capacity to apply knowledge in novel circumstances remains elusive. We conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 132 public schools in Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate a guided, discovery-based science pedagogy at two intensity levels: a high-intensity Mobile Science Lab (MSL) and a lower-intensity Lab on Bike (LoB). MSL improves motivational beliefs and self-confidence by 0.15--0.18 standard deviations, reduces perceived barriers to education by 0.23 standard deviations, raises engagement by 0.17--0.22 standard deviations, and increases standardized test scores by 0.22--0.34 standard deviations across all subjects. LoB produces limited average effects, with gains concentrated among students completing all sessions. These findings demonstrate that pedagogical design and delivery intensity are critical determinants of multidimensional human capital formation, and that discovery-based pedagogy can shift motivational beliefs, engagement, and achievement in low-capacity public school systems.

Keywords: Experiential Pedagogy; Curiosity; Student Engagement; Randomized Controlled Trial; Human Capital; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D83 I21 I24 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05
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