Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
24.0K
Using random assignment to measure court accessibility for low-income divorce seekers
D James Greiner1,2, Ellen Lee Degnan3, Thomas Ferriss2
1Harvard Law School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138; jgreiner@law.harvard.edu.
Summary
Low-income individuals seeking divorce were randomly assigned a pro bono lawyer. Access to legal representation significantly increased divorce completion rates, highlighting systemic barriers for those without attorneys.
Area of Science:
- Socio-legal studies
- Access to justice research
- Family law and policy
Background:
- Divorce is a fundamental constitutional interest that should be accessible regardless of income.
- Low-income individuals face significant barriers in navigating the legal system for divorce.
- Previous research indicates disparities in legal representation and outcomes for low-income litigants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of pro bono legal representation on divorce filing and finalization rates among low-income individuals.
- To identify specific barriers encountered by low-income individuals in the divorce process.
- To evaluate the constitutional mandate of making divorce achievable irrespective of financial capacity.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled field experiment involving 311 low-income individuals seeking divorce.
- Random assignment to receive pro bono legal assistance versus minimal assistance.
- Examination of court records to determine divorce filing and finalization.
- Interviews and archival research to identify procedural and systemic barriers.
Main Results:
- Participants assigned to an attorney were significantly more likely to file for and obtain a divorce (46%) compared to the control group (9%) after three years.
- Among "compliers" (those who accepted representation if assigned), lawyers dramatically increased divorce completion.
- Identified barriers include mandatory wait times, limited facility hours, and complex paperwork requirements.
Conclusions:
- Pro bono legal representation is crucial for enabling low-income individuals to finalize divorces.
- The civil legal system presents significant accessibility challenges for low-income individuals, even in straightforward cases.
- Ensuring access to justice for divorce requires addressing systemic barriers and expanding legal aid services.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Randomized Experiments
8.5K
The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...
Simple randomization
Simple...
8.5K
02:01Group Design
9.9K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
9.9K
01:09Random Sampling Method
13.5K
Sampling is a technique to select a portion (or subset) of the larger population and study that portion (the sample) to gain information about the population. Data are the result of sampling from a population. The sampling method ensures that samples are drawn without bias and accurately represent the population. Because measuring the entire population in a study is not practical, researchers use samples to represent the population of interest. Among the various sampling methods used by...
13.5K
02:03Law of Independent Assortment
60.2K
While Mendel’s Law of Segregation states that the two alleles for one gene are separated into different gametes, a different question of how different genes are inherited remains. For example, is the gene for tall plants inherited with the gene for green peas? Mendel asked this question by experimenting with a dihybrid cross; a cross in which both parents are homozygous for two distinct traits resulting in an F1 generation that are heterozygous for both traits.
60.2K
02:16Surveys
16.2K
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
16.2K
00:55Convenience Sampling Method
10.4K
Sampling is a technique to select a portion (or subset) of the larger population and study that portion (the sample) to gain information about the population. Data are the result of sampling from a population. The sampling method ensures that samples are drawn without bias and accurately represent the population.
Convenience sampling is a non-random method of sample selection; this method selects individuals that are easily accessible and may result in biased data. For example, a marketing...
Convenience sampling is a non-random method of sample selection; this method selects individuals that are easily accessible and may result in biased data. For example, a marketing...
10.4K