The Effect of Activities Designed According to the Incremental Self-theory on 7th Grade Students’ Self-confidence and Their Views about Their Growth Mindset in Science Lesson

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of activities in the 7th graders science course cell and divisions unit, which were designed in accordance with the incremental self-theory on students’ self-confidence and views on their growth mindset. This Research was conducted with 54 seventh grade students studying in two branches in a public secondary school in Kastamonu Province, Turkey randomly assigned to the experimental group (N=27) and control group (N=27). While the cell and divisions unit was taught to the students in the control group in accordance with the 2018 Science Course Curriculum, it was taught to the students in the experimental group with additional supportive activities, which were designed in accordance with incremental self-theory. The research, which had been conducted with a mixed research approach, a semi-experimental design with pre-test post-test control group design. The quantitative data was collected using the self-confidence scale, and the qualitative data was collected using feedback forms. In the light of the findings, obtained via the analysis of all the data collected, while there was no significant difference between the control and experimental group with regard to self-confidence of the students in science course before the implementation, a significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group, after the implementation. The qualitative findings obtained from the feedback forms, which had been administered every week, supported the aforementioned results. According to the findings reached in line with the data obtained with the feedback forms, it was determined that students improved in subjects such as the developability of intelligence (92.59%), instructional of mistakes (95.83%), getting help in case of failure (100%) and fighting failure (100%), which are related to growth mindset. It has been determined that the education designed to develop the incremental self-theory has a positive effect not only on the students’ views about growth mindset but also their self-confidence levels.