British Journal of Educational Psychology

Volume 88, Issue 3 p. 428-445

Original Article

An online growth mindset intervention in a sample of rural adolescent girls

Jeni L. Burnette,

Corresponding Author

Jeni L. Burnette

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-7548-8782

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to Jeni L. Burnette, NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, 640 Poe Hall, Campus Box 7650, Raleigh, NC, USA (email: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this author

Michelle V. Russell,

Michelle V. Russell

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Crystal L. Hoyt,

Crystal L. Hoyt

University of Richmond, Virginia, USA

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Kasey Orvidas,

Kasey Orvidas

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

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Laura Widman,

Laura Widman

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Jeni L. Burnette,

Corresponding Author

Jeni L. Burnette

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-7548-8782

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Michelle V. Russell,

Michelle V. Russell

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Crystal L. Hoyt,

Crystal L. Hoyt

University of Richmond, Virginia, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Kasey Orvidas,

Kasey Orvidas

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Laura Widman,

Laura Widman

NCSU Psychology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 27 September 2017

https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12192

Citations: 57

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Abstract

Background

Students living in rural areas of the United States exhibit lower levels of educational attainment than their suburban counterparts. Innovative interventions are needed to close this educational achievement gap.

Aims

We investigated whether an online growth mindset intervention could be leveraged to promote academic outcomes.

Sample

We tested the mindset intervention in a sample of 222 10th-grade adolescent girls (M age = 15.2; 38% White, 25% Black, 29% Hispanic) from four rural, low-income high schools in the Southeastern United States.

Methods

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the growth mindset intervention, relative to a sexual health programme. We used random sampling and allocation procedures to assign girls to either the mindset intervention (n = 115) or an attention-matched control programme (n = 107). We assessed participants at pre-test, immediate post-test, and 4-month follow-up.

Results

Relative to the control condition, students assigned to the mindset intervention reported stronger growth mindsets at immediate post-test and 4-month follow-up. Although the intervention did not have a total effect on academic attitudes or grades, it indirectly increased motivation to learn, learning efficacy and grades via the shifts in growth mindsets.

Conclusions

Results indicate that this intervention is a promising method to encourage growth mindsets in rural adolescent girls.

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Citing Literature

Volume88, Issue3

September 2018

Pages 428-445

This article also appears in:

The Psychological Impact of Inequality

An online growth mindset intervention in a sample of rural adolescent girls

Abstract

Background

Aims

Sample

Methods

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

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An online growth mindset intervention in a sample of rural adolescent girls

Abstract

Background

Aims

Sample

Methods

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

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