[Numeracy 615] "affirmations" and physics

Archived Content Disclaimer

Please note: This page contains archived content from the lincs.ed.gov e-mail discussion list system, which was disabled in 2012. The content on this page is available for archival purposes only. Hyperlinks on this page may be broken or may no longer link to the content specified from within the archive posting. In addition, information displayed on this page may no longer be relevant.

Susan Jones sujones at parkland.edu
Mon Nov 29 18:11:16 EST 2010


http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20101124.130425&time=11%2000%20PST&year=2010&public=0

A snippet: " BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 25 (AScribe Newswire) --....

And the effects of these psychological factors can be largely overcome with a brief writing exercise focusing on important values, such as friends and family, learning or even music. This simple "values affirmation" writing exercise generally raised women's course grades from the "C" to "B" range, a study led by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers has found.

These self-affirming essays, the researchers suggest, assuaged women's stress about being seen in light of negative stereotypes about women in science. Besides getting better grades, the women also showed greater mastery over the conceptual material, the team found. "

The results surprised the researchers (at least that's what they said) because these were people in math/science programs, not those fulfilling a requirement they wouldn't have broached if it weren't necessary.

It's interesting reading (and well described, IMHO :))


Susan Jones
Academic Development Specialist
Center for Academic Success
Parkland College
Champaign, IL 61821
217-353-2056
sujones at parkland.edu
Webmastress,
http://www.resourceroom.net
http://www.bicycleuc.wordpress.com