Lin-Siegler et al., 2016: Reading about difficulties and overcoming them improved science grades among 9th and 10th grade low-income students over the next six weeks
Reference:
Lin-Siegler, X., Ahn, J. N., Chen, J., Fang, F. F. A., & Luna-Lucero, M. (2016). Even Einstein struggled: Effects of learning about great scientists’ struggles on high school students’ motivation to learn science. Journal of Educational Psychology, 108(3), 314.
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9th and 10th grade students in a large, diverse urban school, mostly low-income and Latino or Black, read three stories about scientists (Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Michael Faraday) in science class, one each over three weeks. Students randomized to read stories that focused on either intellectual struggles or life struggles the scientists faced and overcame, as compared to students for whom the stories focused on scientific accomplishments, showed improved science grades over the next 6-week marking period. The greatest benefits were among students with low prior grades.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')Approach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Promoting growth-mindsets: Representing psychological qualities as capable of changeHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Is intelligence fixed or can it growIs intelligence fixed or can it growPsychological Question Addressed
Is intelligence fixed or can it growPsychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Education
Intervention Technique:
Prompting with information