Social Science Survey: GRIT Scale
Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
Fall 2012
MCC-Blue River, MCC-Longview, MCC-BTC
MCC History
This assessment began in Spring of 2012, when the 1st Social Science Survey was developed. It was
administered at MCC-Blue River as a pilot project. The instrument included several demographic
questions; along with the Ambition Inventory and GRIT Scale. After reviewing results, several revisions
were made.




The Ambition Scale was determined to be less robust and was deleted.
Additional questions were added to look at students’ perception of control and its relationship
to GRIT.
Implementation was attempted throughout the district. The following campus locations
participated: Blue River, Longview, and the Business and Technology Center.
The survey was created in our ClassClimate survey system for a more professional look and data
collection efficiency.
Retention data from Spring 2012
There were 428 students who took the GRIT in spring 2012 and provided accurate Student ID’s. Of those
students, 54 (13%) earned a degree or certificate and another 222 (52%) re-enrolled in the fall semester
of 2012. The overall retention rate of this group is 59%. T-tests were performed to analyze differences
between students GRIT score and their persistence. There was no significant GRIT score difference
found between students who graduated or reenrolled and those who did not persist to Fall 2012. For
this student group, “Grittiness” did not predict retention.
Fall 2012
The survey was administered to 879 students at MCC. Blue River had 577 respondents (66%), Longview
had 287 respondents (33%), and BTC had 15 respondents (2%). Of the 879 students who completed the
survey, 822 (94%) were matched with student ID. Having the student ID allowed us to look at various
educational factors for the student and their responses to the survey items.
Figure 1 shows the percentage of students and the GRIT score.
1
Figure 1
GRIT score group by percentage
Additionally, the following variables were analyzed for relationship with the GRIT score; Age, Fall 2012
Hours Attempted, Fall 2012 Hours Earned, Fall 2012 GPA, Cumulative GPA, MCC GPA, MCC Hours
Attended prior, MCC Hours Earned prior, Total MCC Hours Attended, Total MCC Hours Earned,
COMPASS Read scores, COMPASS English scores, MATH COMPASS scores, ACT comp scores, Grades for
Course Completers, Q1-Expected grade, Q2-deserved grade, Q3-Time spent studying, Q4-Extent like
studying.
Table 1 (pg. 3) shows the variables that were significant with the GRIT scales. As you can see some
correlations were positive and others were negative. This is because some of the questions were reverse
keyed. A positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variables increases with it.
2
Table 1
Significance with the GRIT scale
Fall 2012 Results
GRIT
Score
# of Students
Age
Sig
.257**
822
Term GPA
Sig
.183**
819
Cumulative GPA
Sig
.186**
813
MCC GPA
Sig
.189**
821
MCC Hours Attempted Prior
Sig
.063
822
MCC Hours Earned Prior
Sig
.078*
822
Tot MCC Hours Attempted
Sig
.080*
822
Tot MCC Hours Earned
Sig
.120**
822
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level.
ANOVAS
Campus
There was a significant difference by campus by GRIT Score.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
BR
577
3.496822648
.6081561444
.0253178716
3.447096044
3.546549253
.0000000
5.0000000
LV
287
3.413763064
.6599613908
.0389562892
3.337085663
3.490440466
.0000000
5.0000000
BTC
15
3.916666667
.4692953152
.1211715293
3.656779584
4.176553750
2.9166667
4.5833335
Total
879
3.476867654
.6268119070
.0211418409
3.435373206
3.518362101
.0000000
5.0000000
3
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
4.274
2
2.137
Within Groups
340.686
876
.389
Total
344.960
878
F
Sig.
5.495
.004
1. What is the grade you expect to receive in this class?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
A
321
3.643302183
.6303721657
.0351839433
3.574081118
3.712523248
.0000000
5.0000000
B
397
3.451721243
.5768754890
.0289525509
3.394801321
3.508641164
.0000000
5.0000000
C
149
3.193512305
.6313319278
.0517207268
3.091305814
3.295718797
.0000000
4.8333335
D
12
3.374999992
.7260485039
.2095921496
2.913690781
3.836309203
2.2500000
4.4166665
879
3.476867654
.6268119070
.0211418409
3.435373206
3.518362101
.0000000
5.0000000
Total
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
21.231
3
7.077
Within Groups
323.730
875
.370
Total
344.960
878
F
Sig.
19.128
.000
2. What grade do you think you deserve in this course?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
A
313
3.650159747
.6175791474
.0349076373
3.581475602
3.718843892
.0000000
5.0000000
B
403
3.451819686
.5817362628
.0289783473
3.394851656
3.508787717
.0000000
5.0000000
C
144
3.211805556
.6505836111
.0542153009
3.104638594
3.318972519
.0000000
4.8333335
D
17
3.161764694
.6900021357
.1673500993
2.806998332
3.516531056
2.0833333
4.4166665
F
2
3.166666700
.3535533906
.2500000000
-.009884484
6.343217884
2.9166667
3.4166667
879
3.476867654
.6268119070
.0211418409
3.435373206
3.518362101
.0000000
5.0000000
Total
4
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
F
21.650
4
5.412
Within Groups
323.310
874
.370
Total
344.960
878
Sig.
14.631
.000
3. How much do you study for this class each week?:
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
None
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum Maximum
43 3.193798447 .6633650875 .1011622274 2.989644806 3.397952087 1.4166666 4.5000000
1 hr or less
205 3.335772355 .5533808872 .0386497977 3.259568061 3.411976650 1.7500000 4.9166665
Bet 2-3 Hrs
406 3.451970445 .6245592835 .0309963568 3.391036607 3.512904282
.0000000 5.0000000
Bet 4-5 Hrs
169 3.630670615 .6171955636 .0474765818 3.536943051 3.724398180
.0000000 4.7500000
6 Hrs or more
Total
56 3.927083339 .5862616019 .0783425019 3.770081457 4.084085222 2.0833333 4.8333335
879 3.476867654 .6268119070 .0211418409 3.435373206 3.518362101
.0000000 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
23.127
4
5.782
Within Groups
321.833
874
.368
Total
344.960
878
F
15.701
Sig.
.000
5
4. Which most accurately describes how you study?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Didn’t Answer
I have no difficulty
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
3 3.916666667 .1443375673 .0833333333 3.558112273 4.275221061 3.7500000 4.0000000
392 3.692389459 .6327089338 .0319566270 3.629561143 3.755217775
.0000000 5.0000000
studying
I don't know how
I don't need to
158 3.362869196 .5842861390 .0464833094 3.271055867 3.454682525 1.7500000 4.9166665
24 3.399305529 .4688220857 .0956979075 3.201339325 3.597271734 2.5833333 4.4166665
study
I don't like to study
I don't study
Total
286 3.274475526 .5494399261 .0324890639 3.210526567 3.338424485
.0000000 4.8333335
16 2.973958350 .6809027296 .1702256824 2.611130897 3.336785803 1.4166666 4.0833335
879 3.476867654 .6268119070 .0211418409 3.435373206 3.518362101
.0000000 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
36.748
5
7.350
Within Groups
308.212
873
.353
Total
344.960
878
F
20.818
Sig.
.000
6
5. What is the biggest challenge you face in terms of your ability to study?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
No challenges
Reading and
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
42 3.874999962 .6132706652 .0946297181 3.683891369 4.066108555 2.4166667 4.7500000
116 3.545258622 .6048707590 .0561608401 3.434014807 3.656502438 2.2500000 5.0000000
comprehending
the material
Focusing on the
142 3.327464786 .6532823032 .0548222331 3.219084987 3.435844585
.0000000 4.6666665
Managing Time
309 3.612189867 .6560977153 .0373240950 3.538747395 3.685632340
.0000000 4.9166665
Staying Motivated
270 3.309259260 .5140896556 .0312865001 3.247661711 3.370856809 1.4166666 5.0000000
Total
879 3.476867654 .6268119070 .0211418409 3.435373206 3.518362101
material
.0000000 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
23.613
4
5.903
Within Groups
321.347
874
.368
Total
344.960
878
F
16.056
Sig.
.000
7
6. Do you study about the same amount of time in all of your classes?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
N
Mean
Std.
Mean
Std. Error
Deviation
Lower
Yes
2
3.416666650 .8249579350 .5833333500
Maximum
Upper Bound
Bound
0
Minimum
3.995286325
10.828619625 2.8333333 4.0000000
379 3.554529469 .6724523089 .0345415549 3.486611804 3.622447134
.0000000 5.0000000
No, I spend a
different amount
of time for
130 3.392948715 .5931923006 .0520264064 3.290013196 3.495884235 1.8333334 4.7500000
Reading/English
classes
No, I spend a
different amount
of time for Math
171 3.410818708 .5783102272 .0442244884 3.323518829 3.498118587 2.0000000 4.8333335
classes
No, I spend a
different amount
of time for Science
169 3.471893492 .5756931327 .0442840871 3.384468503 3.559318481
.0000000 4.7500000
classes
I do not spend any
time studying
28
3.252976189 .6104719623 .1153683568 3.016259874 3.489692504 1.4166666 4.1666665
outside of class
Total
879 3.476867654 .6268119070 .0211418409 3.435373206 3.518362101
.0000000 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
5.362
5
1.072
Within Groups
339.598
873
.389
Total
344.960
878
F
2.757
Sig.
.018
8
7. Do you think your study habits will change if you get a grade that is not what you desire?
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
66
3.714646464
.6653931069
.0819042296
3.551072422
3.878220505
2.1666667
5.0000000
2
65
3.441025645
.5952508707
.0738317838
3.293529701
3.588521588
1.4166666
4.5833335
3
142
3.319248830
.6077685180
.0510028010
3.218419787
3.420077874
.0000000
4.7500000
4
243
3.408093276
.5924714144
.0380070590
3.333226396
3.482960156
.0000000
4.6666665
Very
338
3.560897438
.6343311099
.0345030638
3.493028936
3.628765941
.0000000
5.0000000
854
3.479996098
.6266426297
.0214432693
3.437908343
3.522083852
.0000000
5.0000000
Very
Unlikely
Likely
Total
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
10.870
4
2.718
Within Groups
324.086
849
.382
Total
334.957
853
F
7.119
Sig.
.000
9
8. I like to study.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
28 3.970238086 .5538001330 .1046583877 3.755496812 4.184979359 2.7500000 4.7500000
me
Mostly like me
121 3.793388437 .5884792063 .0534981097 3.687465903 3.899310971 1.8333334 4.8333335
Somewhat like
267 3.564918854 .5195118025 .0317936060 3.502319713 3.627517994 2.0833333 4.8333335
me
Not much like
296 3.411599101 .5352214461 .0311091147 3.350375177 3.472823024 1.8333334 5.0000000
me
Not like me at
162 3.221193410 .5932185840 .0466076537 3.129152239 3.313234582 1.4166666 5.0000000
all
Total
874 3.493897789 .5816967843 .0196761872 3.455279630 3.532515948 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
32.605
4
8.151
Within Groups
262.793
869
.302
Total
295.398
873
F
26.955
Sig.
.000
10
9. I know how my current education will help me obtain my goal(s) for the future.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
489 3.651670077 .5657247141 .0255829559 3.601403737 3.701936417 1.8333334 5.0000000
me
Mostly like me
263 3.344740176 .5321779051 .0328154954 3.280124506 3.409355846 1.7500000 4.8333335
Somewhat like
77 3.194805195 .5091649850 .0580247352 3.079238919 3.310371471 2.0000000 4.7500000
me
Not much like
22 3.113636368 .4983739983 .1062536934 2.892669716 3.334603020 2.0833333 4.0833335
me
Not like me at
11 3.068181818 .7672264335 .2313274736 2.552752087 3.583611550 1.4166666 4.2500000
all
Total
862 3.496036351 .5816305152 .0198104140 3.457153995 3.534918707 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
30.082
4
7.521
Within Groups
261.189
857
.305
Total
291.271
861
F
24.676
Sig.
.000
11
10. I feel overwhelmed with how much I need to do in a week.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
215 3.348837207 .5803371558 .0395786655 3.270823254 3.426851160 1.7500000 4.9166665
me
Mostly like me
235 3.453191489 .5568322738 .0363237324 3.381628155 3.524754823 1.8333334 4.7500000
Somewhat like
247 3.497975713 .5768086194 .0367014536 3.425686542 3.570264884 2.0000000 5.0000000
me
Not much like
139 3.678057555 .5408253799 .0458722100 3.587354271 3.768760838 1.4166666 4.8333335
me
Not like me at all
Total
33 3.876262636 .6535563933 .1137695650 3.644521616 4.108003657 2.5000000 5.0000000
869 3.492136557 .5829372611 .0197747922 3.453324557 3.530948556 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
14.454
4
3.613
Within Groups
280.506
864
.325
Total
294.960
868
F
11.130
Sig.
.000
12
11. I have difficulty balancing school and my personal life.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
127 3.225721787 .6055947197 .0537378417 3.119376178 3.332067395 1.4166666 4.6666665
me
Mostly like me
183 3.346994536 .5620489607 .0415478547 3.265017125 3.428971946 1.8333334 4.7500000
Somewhat like
249 3.508701476 .5260700541 .0333383351 3.443039103 3.574363849 1.7500000 4.9166665
me
Not much like
226 3.615781704 .5250436278 .0349253826 3.546959023 3.684604384 2.0000000 4.8333335
me
Not like me at
84 3.828373036 .6354845253 .0693370462 3.690464440 3.966281632 2.3333333 5.0000000
all
Total
869 3.492040661 .5817613289 .0197349014 3.453306955 3.530774367 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
25.889
4
6.472
Within Groups
267.882
864
.310
Total
293.771
868
F
20.875
Sig.
.000
13
12. I have someone who supports my success in school.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
509 3.580222660 .5774010707 .0255928525 3.529941797 3.630503524 1.7500000 5.0000000
me
Mostly like me
176 3.332859853 .5034403234 .0379482422 3.257964730 3.407754977 1.4166666 4.5833335
Somewhat like
89 3.347378273 .6407406552 .0679183736 3.212404778 3.482351769 1.8333334 4.9166665
me
Not much like
56 3.431547616 .5937611463 .0793446707 3.272537343 3.590557889 2.4166667 4.7500000
me
Not like me at
37 3.391891886 .6176621310 .1015430288 3.185953079 3.597830694 2.0833333 4.7500000
all
Total
867 3.488465976 .5824762164 .0197819294 3.449639842 3.527292109 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
10.845
4
2.711
Within Groups
282.970
862
.328
Total
293.815
866
F
8.259
Sig.
.000
14
13. I have many stressful things going on in my life.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
290 3.445114939 .6188752827 .0363416079 3.373587153 3.516642726 1.4166666 4.8333335
me
Mostly like me
185 3.462612616 .5227956601 .0384367014 3.386779290 3.538445943 2.1666667 5.0000000
Somewhat like
220 3.531439399 .6218193231 .0419230502 3.448815130 3.614063667 1.7500000 4.9166665
me
Not much like
135 3.503086415 .4994199938 .0429832293 3.418073077 3.588099753 2.0000000 4.7500000
me
Not like me at
44 3.695075770 .5702982173 .0859756912 3.521689265 3.868462276 2.6666667 5.0000000
all
Total
874 3.492086195 .5823241570 .0196974084 3.453426385 3.530746004 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
2.971
4
.743
Within Groups
293.065
869
.337
Total
296.036
873
F
2.202
Sig.
.067
15
14. I have difficulty balancing school and other responsibilities (including work, home, and
family matters)
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Very much like
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
Minimum
Maximum
165 3.219696968 .5881833009 .0457900079 3.129283015 3.310110922 1.4166666 4.6666665
me
Mostly like me
177 3.365819210 .5253253891 .0394858742 3.287892480 3.443745941 1.8333334 4.7500000
Somewhat like
256 3.519205727 .5554101711 .0347131357 3.450844782 3.587566672 1.7500000 4.7500000
me
Not much like
208 3.639423078 .5249980575 .0364020657 3.567656755 3.711189401 1.8333334 4.8333335
me
Not like me at
64 3.968750019 .5751504827 .0718938103 3.825081703 4.112418335 2.6666667 5.0000000
all
Total
870 3.493007664 .5837980714 .0197926083 3.454160759 3.531854569 1.4166666 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
34.308
4
8.577
Within Groups
261.864
865
.303
Total
296.173
869
F
28.332
Sig.
.000
16
Ethnicity
There was no difference in means by ethnicity.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
White
618 3.468716291 .6137576720 .0246889543
3.420231722
3.517200861
Black
67 3.613184078 .5695894442 .0695864259
3.474250296
3.752117860 2.0833333 4.7500000
Hispanic
45 3.518518516 .5819488166 .0867518076
3.343681736
3.693355296 2.0833333 4.5000000
Asian
14 3.482142843 .6802922858 .1818157612
3.089353771
3.874931915 2.2500000 4.5000000
Am Indian
4 3.583333350 .2256677417 .1128338708
3.224245615
3.942421085 3.4166667 3.9166667
Unspecified
7 3.511904771 .3348181199 .1265493542
3.202249657
3.821559886 3.1666667 4.0000000
Pac Islander
8 3.822916713 .5222006436 .1846258081
3.386346049
4.259487376 3.0000000 4.5833335
Multi Racial
59 3.484463281 .7689923801 .1001142805
3.284062776
3.684863787
.0000000 5.0000000
822 3.488949718 .6184786091 .0215719187
3.446607112
3.531292324
.0000000 5.0000000
Total
.0000000 5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
2.260
7
.323
Within Groups
311.786
814
.383
Total
314.045
821
F
Sig.
.843
.552
Age
There was a significant difference in means by Age.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
Std.
N
Mean
Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
16 - 20
488 3.344945358 .5701743138 .0258105784
3.294231518
3.395659198
.0000000 4.5833335
21-25
187 3.583778969 .6492170504 .0474754526
3.490119391
3.677438547
.0000000 4.9166665
26-30
65 3.866666655 .5996237188 .0743741688
3.718087173
4.015246138 2.5833333 5.0000000
31-35
29 3.775862066 .4410167295 .0818947507
3.608108273
3.943615858 2.7500000 4.4166665
36-40
26 3.878205150 .5779421476 .1133437803
3.644769265
4.111641035 2.5833333 4.5833335
41 and over
27 3.842592596 .6120815974 .1177951583
3.600461181
4.084724012 2.6666667 4.8333335
822 3.488949718 .6184786091 .0215719187
3.446607112
3.531292324
Total
.0000000 5.0000000
17
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
30.778
5
6.156
Within Groups
283.267
816
.347
Total
314.045
821
F
Sig.
17.733
.000
Admit Type
There was a significant difference of means by admit type.
Descriptives
GRIT Score
95% Confidence Interval for
Mean
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
Minimum
Maximum
TRN
73
3.549086753
.7137369607
.0835365927
3.382559599
3.715613907
.0000000
5.0000000
REG
404
3.510932344
.6374389066
.0317137709
3.448587259
3.573277429
.0000000
4.9166665
FTF
311
3.424705258
.5723447805
.0324546950
3.360845909
3.488564606
.0000000
5.0000000
DEG
13
3.916666685
.3154948964
.0875025405
3.726015027
4.107318342
3.4166667
4.4166665
Total
801
3.487515608
.6197699438
.0218984942
3.444530315
3.530500901
.0000000
5.0000000
ANOVA
GRIT Score
Sum of Squares
Between Groups
df
Mean Square
4.119
3
1.373
Within Groups
303.172
797
.380
Total
307.292
800
F
3.610
Sig.
.013
18