blackwell et al

• blackwell did 2 studies
• what were the studies based off of?

  dwecks mindset theory
• people with growth mindset

  • embraces challenges
  • wants to improve
  • wants to learn from failures
• people with fixed mindset

  • doesnt enjoy challenges
  • gives up easily
  • threatened by others success
• what is the aim of study 1?

  to find out if having a growth or fixed mindset impacts maths grades
• what is the aim of study 2?

  to find out if teaching about growth and mixed mindsets can improve grades
• these studies are longitudinal studies
• sample of study 1

  373 students
• sample of study 2

  99 students
• procedure of study 1

  1. in 6th grade, maths scores were taken
  2. in 7th grade, a motivational questionnaire was done and maths scores were taken
  3. in 8th grade, maths scores were taken
• why did blackwell use a motivational questionnaire?

  to find out what mindset the student had
• what is the research method?

  correlational field study
• what is the finding of study 1?

  students with a growth mindset had greater improvement in maths scores than those with a fixed mindset
• study 2 research method

  correlational field study with an experimental section
• study 2 procedure

  1. maths scores in 6th grade
  2. motivational questionnaire and experimental section in 7th grade
  3. motivational questionnaire done again and math scores taken before the end of 7th grade
• what happened in the experimental section?

  participants were split in 2 groups

  experimental group and control group
• what did the experimental group learn in a workshop?

  they were taught that intelligence can be changed and about mindsets
• what did the control group learn?

  taught about memory and they took part in discussions of academic issues that affect them
• findings of study 2

  • experimental group were more likely to grow a growth mindset
  • experimental group had greater improvement in maths
  • experimental group were reported to be more positive and motivated in lesson
• criticisms of study 1

  • culture bias
  • only uses maths
• criticisms of study 2

  • low population validity
  • culture bias
  • only uses maths