This document summarizes a proposed study investigating whether college students' mindsets can change from fixed to growth. The study would involve administering a mindset scale to participants before and after randomly assigning them to either watch an informational video about the benefits of a growth mindset or a control video. The researchers would analyze the data using a two-tailed t-test to determine if there are significant differences in mindset scores before and after the video, which could indicate a change in mindset. If successful, this would provide evidence that people's mindsets remain plastic into adulthood and can be influenced by new information.

1. An Investigation of the Plasticity of
Mindsets of College Students
By: Alexander Lacey, Elva Peña, and Briana Wagner
ED 690
Summer 2013

2. Dr. Carol S. Dweck- pioneer of research of mindsets
Mindsets (implicit theories)- one’s beliefs about personal
attributes, such as intelligence or personality
Two kinds of mindsets:
Fixed (entity theory)- abilities, intelligence, and personality
are fixed and unalterable
Growth (incremental theory)- qualities are changeable
through willpower, persistence, and an effort to learn.
Introduction of Mindsets

3. Alexander: The Accuracy of Measuring Mindsets
Briana: Benefits of a Growth Mindset: The positive effects on
academics, peer relationships, and self-perception
Elva: Plasticity of Mindsets: Can college students change their
mindset from fixed to growth?
Literature Review

4. Dr. Dweck developed a nine-item Likert scale to
measure one’s mindset
Combined score of three separate subscales:
Intelligence theory
Morality theory
Person theory
The scale repeatedly had valid and reliable results
Measuring Mindsets

5. Academic Performance
Given comparable academic aptitude, a student who adopts a growth
instead of a fixed mindset proves to be more successful at maintaining
motivation in school
Peer Relationships
A person with a fixed mindset in regards to peer relationships is
inclined to evaluate oneself negatively in the face of peer disapproval,
which leads to more depressive and aggressive symptoms when
victimized
Self-Perception
In response to hardships, setbacks, or disappointments, if a person has
an incremental theory about self worth, rather than an entity theory,
he or she is likely to feel self-efficacy in the face of challenges.
Benefits of a Growth Mindset
Possible Implications

6. Aronson Study (experimenting with manipulation):
Older students were paired as pen pals with younger students
and inspired them by saying that they can always learn
The younger students felt more motivated about school and
performed better academically with their new mindset from
the encouragement
People could go from a fixed mindset when taught that the
brain is like a muscle
The brain can be shaped and grow because it is malleable
Plasticity of Mindsets

7. Brief background of participant demographics
Online survey
9 item Likert scale to measure mindset
Randomly assigned video
Experimental- informational video on benefits of a growth
mindset
Control- similar images and duration, but no information about
mindsets
Online survey
Mindset scale again to measure mindset after manipulation
Study Design

8. Mindset Survey

9. Mindset Video

10. Compare means of the control and experimental
groups
Two Tailed T-Test
Comparing the means of their mindset scores before
and after the video presentation
Significant differences between mindsets of participants
after the video presentation could indicate a change in
mindset
Proposed Analysis

11. Questions