A message that intelligence grows with effort may have raised Black students' grades.

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   79 Stanford students were analysed (42 Black, 37 White); 30 of the 109 recruited could not carry on. The groups' college entrance test (SAT) scores differed at the start, and the analysis adjusted for them.

2. 02

   What they did

   Students met three times, about 10 days apart, for an hour each. Both writing groups answered letters from middle-school pen pals. One was told intelligence grows like a muscle; the other, that it has many separate talents. A third group did not take part.

3. 03

   What happened

   Black students who wrote that intelligence grows had higher grade averages: 3.32, against 3.05 and 3.10. They also enjoyed academics more than one other group and valued them more than both; White students' gains were smaller and mostly unclear. How much students felt judged by their race did not differ between groups.

What the study found

1. HelpedGoals

   Black students who wrote that intelligence grows with effort got higher grades than two other groups; White students' gain was less clear.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Give advice to someone facing the same challengeused

   Small randomised trial of 79 college students, Black and White · vs the same letters with a different message, or no task · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

2. HelpedMotivation

   Black students who wrote that intelligence grows enjoyed their studies more than one group, and valued them more than both.

   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
   • Action: Give advice to someone facing the same challengeused

   Small randomised trial of 79 college students, Black and White · vs the same letters with a different message, or no task · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

Source