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The Power of Believing You Can Get Smarter : The Impact of a Growth-Mindset Intervention on Academic Achievement in Peru

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  • Outes-Leon,Ingo
  • Sanchez,Alan
  • Vakis,Renos

Abstract

This paper evaluates the academic impact of a growth-mindset intervention on students starting the secondary level in public schools in urban Peru. ¡Expande tu Mente! is a 90-minute school session aimed at instilling the notion that a person's own intelligence is malleable. Students in schools randomly assigned to treatment showed a small improvement in math test scores and educational expectations, with a large and sustained impact in test scores among students outside the capital city. At a cost of $0.20 per pupil, ¡Expande tu Mente! was highly cost-effective. The results show the potential that brief growth-mindset interventions have for developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Outes-Leon,Ingo & Sanchez,Alan & Vakis,Renos, 2020. "The Power of Believing You Can Get Smarter : The Impact of a Growth-Mindset Intervention on Academic Achievement in Peru," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9141, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9141
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bettinger, Eric & Ludvigsen, Sten & Rege, Mari & Solli, Ingeborg F. & Yeager, David, 2018. "Increasing perseverance in math: Evidence from a field experiment in Norway," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1-15.
    2. David K. Evans & Anna Popova, 2016. "What Really Works to Improve Learning in Developing Countries? An Analysis of Divergent Findings in Systematic Reviews," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 31(2), pages 242-270.
    3. James J. Heckman & Jora Stixrud & Sergio Urzua, 2006. "The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(3), pages 411-482, July.
    4. Miriam Bruhn & David McKenzie, 2009. "In Pursuit of Balance: Randomization in Practice in Development Field Experiments," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(4), pages 200-232, October.
    5. Sule Alan & Teodora Boneva & Seda Ertac, 2019. "Ever Failed, Try Again, Succeed Better: Results from a Randomized Educational Intervention on Grit," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(3), pages 1121-1162.
    6. Outes, Ingo & Sánchez, Alan & Vakis, Renos, 2017. "Cambiando la mentalidad de los estudiantes: evaluación de impacto de ¡Expande tu mente! sobre el rendimiento académico en tres regiones del Perú," Documentos de Investigación dt83, Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE).
    7. Flavio Cunha & James J. Heckman, 2008. "Formulating, Identifying and Estimating the Technology of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skill Formation," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(4).
    8. Marcotte, Dave E., 2007. "Schooling and test scores: A mother-natural experiment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 629-640, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Farfan Bertran,Maria Gabriela & Holla,Alaka & Vakis,Renos, 2021. "Poor Expectations : Experimental Evidence on Teachers~^!!^ Stereotypes and Student Assessment: Poor Expectations : Experimental Evidence on Teachers' Stereotypes and Student Assessment," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9593, The World Bank.
    2. Haroon, Maryiam & Said, Farah & Zafar, Mahniya, 2022. "Fostering non-cognitive skills and academic performance: Experimental evidence from women’s-only colleges in Pakistan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Flory, Jeffrey A. & Leibbrandt, Andreas & Rott, Christina & Stoddard, Olga B., 2021. "Signals from On High and the Power of Growth Mindset: A Natural Field Experiment in Attracting Minorities to High-Profile Positions," IZA Discussion Papers 14383, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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