Understanding Grit in the Context of Education: A Sociocultural Perspective

• In Event: Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Where Is the “Ready” in College Readiness? Defining Its Many Faces and Phases

Abstract

College readiness is traditionally predicted by standardized assessments of cognitive ability and high school record. Only 10 percent of college students who do not finish their degrees, however, leave higher education prematurely due to poor academic performance. A growing body of evidence suggests that non-cognitive factors matter to students' likelihood of succeeding in college. This paper examines the non-cognitive factors, and the construct of grit in particular, in the context of education. The author conceptualizes grit as three malleable academic mindsets: (a) interest and passion, (b) preference for long-term goals, and (c) the ability to overcome setbacks. The author uses a sociocultural lens to examine grit and discusses implications of considering grit in various aspects of higher education.

Author

• Daniel J Almeida, University of Southern California