Hearing that belonging doubts fade may have lifted Black students' fit and study

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   37 first-year students took part in the main study, 18 Black and 19 White. A first study had 69 college students.

2. 02

   What they did

   Students read a survey of older students with made-up numbers and altered quotes. One version said most students worry about belonging early on, and that it fades. The other said social and political views mature. Then students wrote and videotaped advice for future students about why college changes.

3. 03

   What happened

   Right after, Black students felt they fit in more than the other group did, while White students felt they fit in less. Black students also said they studied over an hour a day more, and their grades improved more than the other group's. White students' grades were a little higher in the other group, a result the authors call uncertain.

What the study found

1. HelpedMotivation

   After reading that others' doubts fade, Black students felt they fit in more, but White students felt less so.

   • Action: Read about someone facing the same problemtested
   • Action: Give advice to someone facing the same challengeused

   Small randomised trial of 37 first-year college students, Black and White · vs a message about social and political views · they rated themselves

2. HelpedGoals

   Over the next week, Black students said they studied and emailed teachers more after reading that others' doubts fade.

   • Action: Read about someone facing the same problemtested
   • Action: Give advice to someone facing the same challengeused

   Small randomised trial of 37 first-year college students, Black and White · vs a message about social and political views · they rated themselves

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