How Does Perseverance of Effort Influence the College Outcomes of Historically Underrepresented Students?

• In Event: 43.079 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Six - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 43.079-2 - Student Motivation and Growth Mind-Set in Higher Education

Abstract

Grit has become a popular concept in the education field and is characterized by consistency of interest and perseverance of effort. This study focuses on one dimension of grit, perseverance of effort, to examine if it has compensatory effects for historically underrepresented college students. Using a large, diverse sample of undergraduates, the results indicate that perseverance of effort has a stronger relationship with some process indicators of student learning than for traditional college students. Additionally, we did not observe any stronger relationships for traditional college students relative to non-traditional populations. Consequently, the results suggest that perseverance of effort can have compensatory effects that can help historically underrepresented students overcome obstacles on their pathway to a college degree.

Authors

• Kevin John Fosnacht, Indiana University

• Keeley Copridge, Indiana University - Bloomington