News Psychology

STEM professors’ beliefs on intelligence may widen the racial achievement gap

Racial minorities can suffer lower grades if their teachers see intelligence as fixed

professor in lecture room

GET SMART  STEM professors who believe that intelligence can’t be changed may unknowingly lower the academic performance of all students, and underrepresented minority students in particular, a new study finds.

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By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

WASHINGTON — Beliefs among some university professors that intelligence is fixed, rather than capable of growth, contribute to a racial achievement gap in STEM courses, a new study suggests.