Growth Mindset Predicts Student Achievement and Behavior in Mobile Learning

Abstract

Students' personal qualities other than cognitive ability are known to influence persistence and achievement in formal learning environments, but the extent of their influence in digital learning environments is unclear. This research investigates non-cognitive factors in mobile learning in a resource-poor context. We surveyed 1,000 Kenyan high school students who use a popular SMS-based learning platform that provides formative assessments aligned with the national curriculum. Combining survey responses with platform interaction logs, we find growth mindset to be one of the strongest predictors of assessment scores. We investigate theory-based behavioral mechanisms to explain this relationship. Although students who hold a growth mindset are not more likely to persist after facing adversity, they spend more time on each assessment, increasing their likelihood of answering correctly. Results suggest that cultivating a growth mindset can motivate students in a resource-poor context to excel in a mobile learning environment.