Duckworth et al., 2011: Reflecting about obstacles and solutions, when doing practice tests, increased likelihood of completing more practice problems among high schoolers
Reference:
Duckworth, A. L., Grant, H., Loew, B., Oettingen, G., & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2011). Self-regulation strategies improve self-discipline in adolescents: Benefits of mental contrasting and implementation intentions. Educational Psychology, 31(1), 17-26.
Download PDFSummary:
High school students in a socioeconomically and diverse school preparing to take a high stakes exam imagined “as vividly as possible” two positive outcomes associated with completing all of the practice tests and two obstacles that could prevent them from doing so. They then wrote what they would do if each obstacle arose following an “If… , then…” template (“mental contrasting with implementation intentions”). As compared to an active control condition, this led students to complete 60% more practice problems.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')Psychological Question Addressed
How will I accomplish my goals?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Education
Intervention Technique:
Active reflection, on goals