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  • What makes a role model motivating for young girls? The effects of the role model’s growth versus fixed mindsets about ability and interest
Title: What makes a role model motivating for young girls? The effects of the role model’s growth versus fixed mindsets about ability and interest
Successful women role models can be—but are not always—effective in increasing pursuit of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers among girls. What makes a woman role model motivating for young girls? An experimental study (N = 205 girls aged 5–8 years; 42.0% girls of color) investigated the effects of a role model’s messages about her own ability and interest. The model portrayed her ability and interest as quantities that developed over time (a growth mindset) or that had always been present (a fixed mindset). The role model’s growth (vs. fixed) mindset messages about ability—but not interest—increased girls’ interest and self-efficacy in the scientist’s field, but these effects were observed only among girls of color (ds = 0.56 and 0.65 for interest and self-efficacy, respectively). The findings contribute to theory on role models and growth mindsets, and they also have implications for the design of effective role model interventions.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2229612
PAR ID:
10496749
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Elsevier Inc.
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Volume:
238
Issue:
C
ISSN:
0022-0965
Page Range / eLocation ID:
105775
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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