Growth Mind-Sets Predicting Science Achievement and Aspirations: A Mediation Pathway Through Expectancies and Values

• In Event: Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session: The Role of Students' and Teachers' Competence Beliefs and Value Beliefs

Abstract

Despite efforts to increase the number of adolescents pursuing science careers, science motivation declines during the secondary school years. To better understand individual differences in science motivation, a short-term longitudinal study (1,613 high school students) examined if a growth mindset in science ability was associated with achievement and career aspirations indirectly through motivational beliefs (i.e., expectancy beliefs, task values, and cost). Findings suggested that expectancy beliefs mediated the pathway from a growth mindset to higher grades in science, while values mediated the pathway from a growth mindset to higher STEM career aspirations. Both a growth mindset and high motivation in science are important pathways to achieving success in science.

Authors

• Jessica Lauren Degol, Penn State Altoona

• Ya Zhang, Western Michigan University

• Ming-Te Wang, University of Pittsburgh

• Julie Allerton