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Validation of survey effort measures of grit and self-control in a sample of high school students

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  • Gema Zamarro
  • Malachi Nichols
  • Angela L Duckworth
  • Sidney K D’Mello

Abstract

Personality traits such as grit and self-control are important determinants of success in life outcomes. However, most measures of these traits, which rely on self-reports, might be biased when used for the purpose of evaluating education policies or interventions. Recent research has shown the potential of survey effort—in particular, item non-response and careless answering—as a proxy measure of these traits. The current investigation uses a dataset of high school seniors (N = 513) to investigate survey effort measures in relationship with teacher reports, performance task measures, high school academic outcomes, and college attendance. Our results show promise for use of survey effort as proxy measures of grit and self-control.

Suggested Citation

  • Gema Zamarro & Malachi Nichols & Angela L Duckworth & Sidney K D’Mello, 2020. "Validation of survey effort measures of grit and self-control in a sample of high school students," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0235396
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235396
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cheng, Albert & Zamarro, Gema, 2018. "Measuring teacher non-cognitive skills and its impact on students: Insight from the Measures of Effective Teaching Longitudinal Database," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 251-260.
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    3. Almlund, Mathilde & Duckworth, Angela Lee & Heckman, James & Kautz, Tim, 2011. "Personality Psychology and Economics," Handbook of the Economics of Education, in: Erik Hanushek & Stephen Machin & Ludger Woessmann (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Education, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 0, pages 1-181, Elsevier.
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    5. Trivitt, Julie & Cheng, Albert, 2016. "When you say nothing at all: The predictive power of student effort on surveysAuthor-Name: Hitt, Collin," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 105-119.
    6. Zamarro, Gema & Cheng, Albert & Shakeel, M. Danish & Hitt, Collin, 2018. "Comparing and validating measures of non-cognitive traits: Performance task measures and self-reports from a nationally representative internet panel," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 51-60.
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