Possible Selves Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Intervening for Impact: Mindsets, Executive Function, and Self-Regulation from Early Childhood to College

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) to integrate and reconcile primary studies of possible selves interventions (PSIs). 18 eligible reports have been identified through an electronic database search, which were coded for key features including publication bias, study design, number of sessions, participant age group, and outcome domain. A heterogeneity-attuned approach with modern meta-analytic techniques (e.g., correlated-and-hierarchical-effects modeling) was adopted to calculate the average effect size [ d̄ = .284, k = 16, 95% PI(-.169, .737)] and conduct moderator analyses. Findings may inform future evaluation and implementation of PSIs. Findings from this SRMA will be compared to SRMAs from other “wise” interventions (e.g., growth mindset) to synthesize what researchers and practitioners can learn from them collectively and comparatively.

Authors

• Tanner Reid Phillips, University of Rochester

• Hunter Standish, University of California - Irvine

• Kamalakannan SO M Vijayakumar, University of California - Irvine

• Amy L. Dent, University of California - Irvine