Session Summary

Exploring the Domain-Specific Versus Domain-General Influences of Grit, Mind-Sets, and Motivation on Academic Outcomes

Sun, April 15, 8:15 to 9:45am, Millennium Broadway New York Times Square, Floor: Fifth Floor, Room 5.08

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

It has long been known that certain motivational variables, such as perceived self-efficacy, are more predictive of students’ behavior when measured in a task- or domain-specific manner than when measured as general, person-level constructs. Nevertheless, a number of important motivational variables, such as academic mindsets, grit, and motivational orientations, tend to be measured by researchers in a domain-general manner. Because these variables have recently attracted much attention from both educators and the media, it is worth exploring the theoretical and practical trade-offs involved with assessing them at domain-specific versus domain-general levels. We use the term “domain” to refer to specific academic disciplines (e.g., math, science, history), as well as specific areas of psychological functioning (e.g., intelligence, emotion, social competence).

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