Research Consultations and Dweck’s Theories of IntelligenceAmanda FolkKelly BradishAnna Mary Williford

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

Co-authorsKelly BradishReference/Public Services Librarian

Anna Mary WillifordInstruction/Public Services Librarian

What are theories of intelligence?

Incremental theory

• Growth mindset

• Intelligence can increase as one learns

• Mastery orientation to difficult tasks or the potential for failure

• Mastery orientation toward learning goals

• Achievement is based on hard work and strategy

Entity theory

• Fixed or closed mindset

• Intelligence is a fixed trait that cannot increase

• Helpless orientation to difficult tasks or the potential for failure

• Performance orientation toward learning goals

• Achievement is based on natural ability

We want to know…

Do students who make appointments for research consultations with a librarian subscribe to a particular theory of intelligence as defined by Dweck?

Why we think this is important.

• New ways of thinking about…

how individuals approach the research process (i.e. information-seeking and use behaviors)

individuals’ motivations for seeking help or not

what individuals’ expectations are for receiving help from an information professional

Study design

• Survey administered prior to research consultation

9 questions related to theories of intelligence and goal orientation

3 student background questions (i.e. major, class standing, gender)

3 questions about motivation for making a research consultation appointment

Participants (n = 70)• Gender

Female = 46 (65.7%)

Male = 17 (24.3%)

No answer = 7 (10.0%)

• Major

Communication = 29 (41.4%)

Biological science = 13 (18.6%)

Psychology = 8 (11.4%)

• Year

Freshman = 14 (20.0%)

Sophomore = 12 (17.1%)

Junior = 11 (15.7%)

Senior = 32 (45.7%)

• Required to make an appointment?

Yes = 46 (65.7%)

No = 24 (34.3%)

• First research consultation?

Yes = 60 (85.7%)

No = 10 (14.3%)

• How did you hear about this service?

Librarian = 17 (24.3%)

Professor = 14 (20.0%)

Friend/Classmate = 0 (0.0%)

Other = 2 (2.9%)

Theories of Intelligence

• You have a certain amount of intelligence, and you can't really do much to change it.

• You can always substantially change how intelligent you are.

• You can learn new things, but you can’t really change your basic intelligence.

• No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit.

• You can change your basic intelligence level considerably.

Results

Incremental (>2.5) 53 (75.7%)

Neutral (=2.5) 0 (0.0%)

Entity (<2.5) 17 (24.3%)

Strong incremental (≥3) 35 (50.0%)

Strong entity (≤2) 6 (8.6%)

Mean = 2.81

Goal orientation• It’s much more important for me to learn things in my classes than it is to

get the best grades.

• Although I hate to admit it, I sometimes would rather do well in a class than learn a lot.

• If I knew I wasn’t going to do well at a task, I probably wouldn’t do it even if I might learn a lot from it.

• If I had to choose between getting a good grade and being challenged in class, I would choose… Getting a good grade or being challenged in class.

Results

Mastery (>2.5) 21 (30.0%)

Neutral (=2.5) 7 (10.0%)

Performance (<2.5) 40 (60.0%)

Strong mastery (≥3) 19 (27.2%)

Strong performance (≤2) 30 (42.9%)

Mean = 2.43

Resources• Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY:

Random House.

• Dweck, C.S. (2000). Self-theories: Their role in motivation, personality, development, Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.

• Folk, A.L. (2016). Academic reference and instruction librarians and Dweck’s theories of intelligence. College & Research Libraries, 77(3), 302-313.

• Hunter, J. (2016, July). A lasting learning legacy: Helping students develop growth mindsets for education and beyond. PA Forward Information Literacy Summit 2016. University Park, PA. 60-minute presentation.

• Phillips, Y. (2016, June). Setback? Exploring failure and resilience in the library. Library Instruction West 2016. Salt Lake City, UT. 60-minute presentation.

Thank you!Any questions?