Family Intervention for Empowerment Through Reading and Education, 2021-2022

The data were collected as part of the FIERCE project, investigating the effects of a reading programme on refugee children's educational trajectories. The data were collected from 322 Syrian refugee families living in Jordan (Amman and Al-Zaatari refugee camp) at three timepoints between February 2021 and May 2022. We collected a range of measurements on children's literacy, reading attitudes, socio-emotional learning, mental health and wellbeing; as well as the mothers' and fathers' reading attitudes, mental health and wellbeing, family dynamics and parenting (see the FIERCE data guide for detailed description). Additionally, we also collected data on children's and mothers' cognitive and emotional processing, mother-child interactions, and children's executive function.Community-led, shared book-reading interventions can improve early childhood development and reduce inequity. One such program, We Love Reading (WLR), was implemented in Jordan in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and involves mothers reading stories to children. This research project uses qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the potentially transformative nature of WLR among Syrian refugees in Jordan. Specifically, we interviewed stakeholders (Syrian refugee parents and 7-18 year old children) and conducted a randomised controlled trial with Syrian refugee mothers and their 4-8-year-old children. We use semi-structured interviews for the qualitative component. We use multiple methods in this wait-listed, randomized controlled trial - including survey measures, behavioural assessments, and participant observation - immediately before and immediately after the WLR intervention. The goal of this evaluation study is to understand how WLR may impact Syrian refugee children’s educational trajectories, literacy, and love of reading.</p