Student-Athlete Mindset About Academic and Athletic Ability

• In Event: 69.051 - Exploring the Intersection of "Athletic" and "Academic"

Abstract

The student-athlete literature if rife with studies that examine the factors that appear to improve or inhibit academic or athletic performance. However, internal characteristics that may influence variations in performance have been understudied and athletic performance tends to be examined separately from academic performance.

Dweck’s Mindset framework was used as a lens to determine whether student-athletes demonstrate a growth or fixed mindset towards their academic and athletic abilities. Understanding this element of the student-athlete is important because individuals with a growth mindset demonstrate greater academic motivation and higher performance in a variety of settings.

The results revealed that student-athletes tend to have a growth mindset towards athletic ability. Student-athlete mindset with respect to academic ability appeared to be more variable.

Authors

• Marissa Katherine Nichols, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Alice J. Corkill, University of Nevada - Las Vegas