Table 4 Pre-survey item means and standard deviations

Dweck entity

I don’t think I personally can do much to increase my intelligence.

1.76

1.13

Theory of intel.

My intelligence is something about me that I personally can’t change very much.

2.15

1.33

To be honest, I don’t think I can really change how intelligent I am.

2.15

1.45

I can learn new things, but I don’t have the ability to change my basic intelligence.

2.15

1.33

Dweck incremental

With enough time and effort I think I could significantly improve my intelligence level.

5.12

1.21

Theory of intel.

I believe I can always substantially improve on my intelligence.

5.1

1.23

Regardless of my current intelligence level, I think I have the capacity to change it quite a bit.

5.1

0.99

I believe I have the ability to change my basic intelligence level considerable over time.

5

1.1

MPSB math

I feel I can do math problems that take a long time to complete.

4.01

1.36

confidence

Math problems that take a long time don’t bother me.

2.88

1.48

I’m not very good at solving math problems that take a while to figure out.

3.63

1.42

MPSB Effortful

Ability in math increases when one studies hard.

4.87

1.21

Math

By trying harder, one can become smarter in math.

5.06

1.14

I can get smarter in math if I try hard.

4.95

1.16

Working can improve one’s ability in mathematics.

4.74

1.33

I can get smarter in math by trying harder.

5.08

1.1

Hard work can increase one’s ability to do math.

5.03

1.14

I find I can do hard math problems if I just hang in there.

4.26

1.41

MPSB Non-

Any word problem can be solved if you know the right steps to follow.

5.03

1.23

Prescriptive

Any word problem can be solved by using the correct step-by-step procedure.

4.91

1.3

MPSB persistence

If I can’t do a math problem in a few minutes, I can’t do it at all.

2.59

1.32

If I can’t solve a math problem quickly, I quit trying.

2.54

1.37

MPSB understand

It’s not important to understand why a mathematical procedure works as long as it gives a correct answer.

2.24

1.51

MPSB concepts

Getting the right answer in math is more important than understanding why the answer works.

2.58

1.49

It doesn’t really matter if you understand a math problem if you can get the right answer.

2.22

1.28

MPSB Useful Math

Studying mathematics is a waste of time.

2.28

1.44

Mathematics has no relevance to my life.

2.44

1.48

Mathematics will not be important to me in my life’s work.

2.6

1.58

Knowing mathematics will help me earn a living.

4.55

1.36

Mathematics is a worthwhile and necessary subject.

4.54

1.36

I study mathematics because I know how useful it is.

3.91

1.4

MPSB Word

Word problems are not a very important part of mathematics.

2.56

1.37

Problems

Math classes should not emphasize word problems.

3.29

1.49