Dweck - 1

Question 1

Dweck’s Mindset theory

Answer 1

1. Suggests that children who think they can improve will continue to put in effort whereas those who think they do not have a particular ability tend to stop trying.
2. Believes that children with a fixed mindset can change into a growth mindset

Question 2

Praising

Answer 2

1. Dweck believes that it is better to praise children for effort as they then believe they can achieve something and so they carry on trying.
2. Praising a child’s ability may lead to them thinking ability is fixed at birth

Question 3

Key points of Dweck’s mindset theory

Answer 3

1. Children can develop a fixed mindset about a particular ability they think they do not have and give up fearing they will not be successful.
2. With a fixed mindset, a person can become depressed and stop trying.
3. A growth mindset allows for the idea of effort bringing success.
4. Teachers also have fixed or growth mindsets, which affect how they respond to a child. A teacher with a fixed mindset can see children as lacking ability whereas a teacher with a growth mindset sees that a child can improve with perseverance

Question 4

Experimental evidence in Dweck

Answer 4

1. In one of Dweck’s experiments (Mueller and Dweck, 1998), it was found that praising student’s ability led them to a fixed mindset and they were vulnerable when dealing with setbacks.
2. In contrast, praising effort led to a growth mindset leading to students persevering more. In another study by Yeager and Dweck (2012), it was found that lower achieving students who learned to use a growth mindset did better than a group who did not have that learning

Question 5

Strengths of Dweck’s Theory

Answer 5

1. Has practical applications especially for teachers or parents
2. Theory is positive and shows that change is possible which helps society
3. Has sufficient evidence to support mindset theory

Question 6

Weaknesses of Dweck’s Theory

Answer 6

1. Studying mindset, is an experiment and has artificial settings so the results may not represent real life. As such, data may lack validity.
2. Studying the mindset of a child may result in the child becoming the focus if there are problems with progress rather than the quality of what is being taught and how teaching is done.
3. Studies tend to ignore the effects of giving feedback without any judgement about the child or their ability.
4. Lacks control

Question 7

Fixed Mindset

Answer 7

1. belief that abilities are unchangeable.
2. Children develop a fixed mindset about an ability that they do not think they can do.
3. They stop taking challenges.

Question 8

Growth Mindset

Answer 8

1. belief that abilities are changeable.

2. A growth mindset allows for the idea that effort and process is more important and will eventually lead to success.

Question 9

Mindset

Answer 9

A set of beliefs someone has that guides how someone responds or interprets a situation

Question 10

Ability

Answer 10

what someone can do, such as maths ability.

Question 11

Effort

Answer 11

when you try to do better using determination