R3 AcademyEvaluation Exploring How Course Modality Influences the Effectiveness of the R3 Academy for Couples

The REFRAME project is designed to offer the R3 Academy for Couples, a robust 24-hour program, to married adults ages 18 and over in the state of California. The R3 Academy is an evidence-based couple relationship education curriculum that helps couples strengthen their relationships with their child, with their spouse, and at work. The program also includes two evidence-based components that address economic stability and an innovative approach to Case Management that fosters client self-direction. The R3 Academy curricula will be delivered in both English and Spanish through two modalities: 1) live classes and 2) livestream classes via a video conferencing platform. The Local Evaluation will examine how modality, or in other words attending a live class versus a livestream class, influences the effectiveness of R3 Academy for Couples program when it comes to changes in couples' marital/relationship satisfaction, conflict management, support and affection, and commitment. The question of modality is a timely one. In the COVID-19 era, many programs have become exclusively online-but the potential impact on effectiveness is not well known. We address this issue by considering the impact on four relationship outcomes: marital/relationship satisfaction, conflict management, support and affection, and commitment. Moreover, one issue that many programs report is that couples have great difficulty finding time to be engaged in regularly scheduled, live, in-person classes. Our study will provide evidence about how the availability of materials in alternative formats, that may allow more couples to be involved and reduce issues around the ability to participate, may influence the efficacy of those programs.

RQ1: How do live in-person (control) and online livestream (treatment) Marriage and Relationship Education (MRE) workshops compare on marital/relationship satisfaction outcomes immediately after program completion? RQ2: How do live in-person and online livestream MRE workshops compare on conflict management outcomes immediately after program completion? RQ3: How do live in-person and online livestream MRE workshops compare on support and affection outcomes immediately after program completion? RQ4: How do live in-person and online livestream MRE workshops compare on commitment outcomes immediately after program completion? RQ5: Do program effects last beyond program completion?