Business & Management Studies

Abstract

As the higher education landscape evolves, universities continuously seek innovative methods to enrich student learning experiences and equip them with valuable skills for their future careers. However, the effectiveness of such integration demands rigorous evaluation and validation. Educators and researchers are turning to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a robust methodological approach borrowed from clinical trials and social sciences, to address this need. This research study aims to assess the impact of adding a skill-driven certification program (MS-Excel) to a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) course curriculum using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. The study involves two groups of students, each subjected to different incentive methods. Group A is required to complete the certification as part of their coursework, while Group B is offered bonus points contingent upon successfully obtaining the certification. Rigorous statistical methodologies, such as descriptive and inferential statistics, were used to depict the research outcome thoroughly. To conclude, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Chi-Square methods are used. The finding from the study showed that the treatment group showed a better result with the intervention than the control group.