A new study led by Harvard University’s Carly Robinson shows that attendance awards – one of the oldest and most widely used interventions for absenteeism – can actually lead students to miss more days of school.

Robinson joins CPRE Knowledge Hub managing editor Keith Heumiller to discuss her findings, their potential explanations, and some key takeaways for those hoping to curb absenteeism in their own schools.

Featured research: Robinson, C. D., Gallus, J., Lee, M. G., & Rogers, T. (In Press). The Demotivating Effect (and Unintended Message) of Awards. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.