Peters et al., 2017: Affirming values improved performance on arithmetic tests and health-related behavior among introductory psychology students over one term
Reference:
Peters, E., Shoots-Reinhard, B., Tompkins, M. K., Schley, D., Meilleur, L., Sinayev, A., ... & Crocker, J. (2017). Improving numeracy through values affirmation enhances decision and STEM outcomes. PloS one, 12(7), e0180674.
Download PDFSummary:
Undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory psychology statistics course completed a values-affirmation exercise once in class (week 2) and a second time online several days before the first midterm (week 4). As compared to students who completed a control exercise, those who completed the affirmation showed greater self-perceived numeracy, greater performance on certain tests of numeracy (symbolic arithmetic), greater financial literacy, and greater health-related behaviors at the end of the term relative to the beginning of the term. There was no effect on course grades or subsequent enrollment in math-intensive courses.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
To See the Self as AdequateApproach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Remedy Threats to Self-Integrity that Undermine FunctioningHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Am I under threat, because I face a stressful or threatening academic experience?Am I under threat, because I face a stressful or threatening academic experience?Psychological Question Addressed
Am I under threat, because I face a stressful or threatening academic experience?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Education; Health
Intervention Technique:
Active reflection, values-affirmation