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The Role of Mindset in Education: A Large-Scale Field Experiment in Disadvantaged Schools

Author

Listed:
  • Elise Huillery
  • Adrien Bouguen
  • Axelle Charpentier
  • Yann Algan
  • Coralie Chevallier

Abstract

This article shows that a four-year mindset intervention in disadvantaged middle schools led to a 0.05-standard-deviation increase in grade point average, associated with more optimistic beliefs, more self-criticism and improved school behaviour. Treatment effects were larger in terms of both grade point average and National Exam results for students with relatively better social, academic and discipline profiles. According to international empirical benchmarks, this mindset intervention is highly cost effective, but the effect size remains small despite repeated exposure over four years.

Suggested Citation

  • Elise Huillery & Adrien Bouguen & Axelle Charpentier & Yann Algan & Coralie Chevallier, 2025. "The Role of Mindset in Education: A Large-Scale Field Experiment in Disadvantaged Schools," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(671), pages 2276-2301.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:135:y:2025:i:671:p:2276-2301.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueaf015
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    1. repec:hal:ipppap:halshs-05458929 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:osf:osfxxx:f7w3v_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Elaine Rose G. Nachon & Jonalyn O. Ilagan & Aira M. De Jesus & Arlene G. Advento & Aurora S. Sion & Dale Joseph Prendol & Harold De Guzman & Jerry C. Reyes & Joan Marfel & Judelyn A. Sena & Kathleen D, 2025. "A Survey of Employers’ Feedback on the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Graduates of One State University," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3s), pages 7863-7871, October.
    4. Boon-Falleur, Melusine & Huillery, Elise & Chevallier, Coralie, 2024. "Matching Algorithms that Reward Patience Increase Social Inequalities in Higher Education Admissions," OSF Preprints f7w3v, Center for Open Science.
    5. Foliano, Francesca & Hoskins, Sherria & Rolfe, Heather, 2026. "Perseverance in the classroom: findings from a randomised educational intervention in primary schools in England," Working Papers 26/5, Stockholm School of Economics, Center for Educational Leadership and Excellence.
    6. Suzanne Bellue, 2026. "Residential and Social Mobility: A Quantitative Analysis of Parental Decisions with Social Learning," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 26100, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    7. Islam, Asad & Kwon, Sungoh & Masood, Eema & Prakash, Nishith & Sabarwal, Shwetlena & Saraswat, Deepak, 2024. "All pain and no gain: When goal setting leads to more effort but no gains in test scores," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

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