Blackwell et al: Study 2

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To test the impact of academic intervention

Question 2

Hypthesis

Answer 2

Students who are taught a growth mindset will show more positive motivation in lessons and achieve more highly than students who are not taught about growth mindset.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

99 Pps (49 girls/50 boys) from 7th grade class in the USA (91 continued to the intervention group). Varied socioeconomic status and ethnicity

Question 4

Design

Answer 4

Correlational field study with experimental intervention (IV)
Independent measures design
IV: incremental theory (mindset) intervention group OR control group
DV: levels of motivation and achievement on maths assessment

Question 5

Materials

Answer 5

Sixth grade maths grades used as baseline
Motivational questionnaire (same as study one)

Question 6

Procedure

Answer 6

Participants completed the questionnaire at the start of autumn term of 7th grade
Pps randomly assigned to intervention or control group
Pps told then would take part in a voluntary 8-week voluntary workshop to help with study skills (intervention group: key message of “learning changes the brain by forming new connections and that students are in charge of this process” / control group: lesson on memory and other areas of interest)
After the 8 weeks both groups given a MCQ on the content of the course
3 weeks later given the motivational questionnaire again
Maths teacher asked to record any changes in motivational behaviour in students (researchers coding comments into positive or negative did NOT know which groups pps had been assigned to. ALSO Teacher did not know they had been assigned to different groups)
Pps maths grades recorded in Spring term 8th grade

Question 7

Findings

Answer 7

No difference in recall of content on MCQ between groups
Pps in the experimental groups showed significantly more positive mindsets. No change for control group
27% of students in intervention group reported by teacher to be more motivated compared to 9% of controls
Pps in intervention group gained significantly higher grades in autumn and spring maths assessment compared to controls

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

Students with a growth mindset show a more positive effect on motivation and more positive beliefs about effort

Question 9

Criticism

Answer 9

Culturally biased
• Reductionist as it only focused on students’ mindsets
• Effect was actually very small