Investigating Mindsets and Motivation through Eye Tracking and Other Physiological Measures

Abstract

Although the influence of mindsets on motivation has been investigated using behavioral measures or verbal responses (e.g., Cimpian et al., 2007), only a handful of studies have used physiological measures, such as eye-tracking, to understand this process beyond explicit responses. Physiological measures are needed to understand thoughts and feelings that children are unable or unwilling to express verbally (e.g., Nisbett & Wilson, 1977). Physiological measures provide the opportunity to identify and quantify possible contributing causes to motivational mindsets (e.g., level of stress or anxiety) that can be compared across settings. Understanding the implicit thoughts and emotions that underlie observable behaviors (e.g., persistence) allow us to better understand mechanism.