Gunderson et al.

Question 1

When did Gunderson et al.’s study take place?

Answer 1

2013

Question 2

Give the 2 aims of Gunderson’s study.

Answer 2

1. How do different types of parental praise affect a child’s later ideas about what motivates and causes behaviour?
2. Do parents give more person praise and less process praise to girls than boys?

Question 3

Give the 3 key features of the procedures of Gunderson’s study.

Answer 3

1. Ppts and data collectors unaware of true nature of study - thought it was investigating language development
2. Caregiver-child interactions during a ‘typical day at home’ were observed and videotaped
3. At 7 to 8 years old, children answered questions about their ideas about what underpins intelligence and their socio-moral views on what underpins good and bad behaviour

Question 4

Give the 3 key findings of Gunderson’s study.

Answer 4

1. 24.4% of praise for boys was process praise, compared to the 10.3% of praise for girls that was process praise.
2. Discovered a link between later signs of an incremental motivational framework and process praise
3. No link between person praise and later signs of an entity motivational framework

Question 5

Give the 2 main conclusions drawn from Gunderson’s study.

Answer 5

1. Clear link between IMF and process praise.
2. Boys = more process praise than girls and tended to have more of an IMF

• Fits findings of other studies that conclude
  girls tend to attribute failure to ability more than
  boys

Question 6

Give 2 strengths of Gunderson’s study.

Answer 6

1. Supports other research studies
   • Results from Dweck’s experimental studies were
     found in Gunderson’s naturalistic environment
2. Researchers and participants didn’t know the true nature of the study.
   • Helps to avoid bias

Question 7

Give 2 weaknesses of Gunderson’s study.

Answer 7

1. Possibly unethical
   
   • Should be as little deceit as possible when. A debrief may have made this more ethically acceptable
2. May lack validity
   • Parents may change style of praise upon being
     observed regardless of whether they knew exactly
     what aspect of their behaviour was being observed
   • data may be unnatural

Question 8

Define the following:

1) Person praise
2) Process praise
3) Framework
4) Incremental motivational framework
5) Entity motivational framework

Answer 8

1) Praising a ability
2) Praising a behaviour/effort
3) Ideas
4) Belief traits are malleable
5) Belief traits and abilities are fixed