Saturday, October 20, 2007
Are Success and Failure the ONLY Options?
Something I have run across in my reading on Effectiveness are two theories entitled Entity & Incremental, from an article by Daniel Molden and Carol Dweck entitled "Finding "Meaning" in Psychology." Entity Theory is about set knowledge, previous programming and having an end in mind that is already determined. Incremental Theory speaks to developmental growth, and an understanding that you don't know everything but are capable of learning new things as you go. Therefore when one walks into an experience, the outcome of their success depends on if they have a set belief that will allow them only to succeed or fail based on how the environment connects with that belief, vs. someone who is open to exploring, seeing possibilities and is confident that they will figure it out as they go.
This has made me think about how so much of my work has been a struggle with one set of beliefs, perceptions and inner dialogue about what I can and can't do, rather than an exercise in experimentation. It makes me think of a need for trial and more trial rather than my standard approach of applying my current set of tools to ONE BIG TRY which either ends in success or failure.
In working on my research question, I wish I had one set end goal that would open all doors to my effectiveness. I can't figure out if I should focus on time, task, bigger mission, daily self-regulation, efficacy, reflection or something else entirely. My challenge is to feel like I choose the things that I care about and continue to work on them regularly. To Bill's entry on daVinci, do I focus on many things, completing one, or just be in the learning process as an end in itself?
I originally came up with a focus on time because that is controllable. I can go out and run for 50 minutes much more easily than convincing myself to run 6 miles, which makes the run about one end goal. I can get up and read for 20 minutes, but not be nearly as effective in motivating myself to read a full article. It is more in discipline to sit down than in task that I am initially successful, despite research that says time is irrelevant.
I feel like the answer to my longer-term success is some big mystery but maybe I need to continue to explore with the hat of incremental theory rather than my current entity theory approach.
This has made me think about how so much of my work has been a struggle with one set of beliefs, perceptions and inner dialogue about what I can and can't do, rather than an exercise in experimentation. It makes me think of a need for trial and more trial rather than my standard approach of applying my current set of tools to ONE BIG TRY which either ends in success or failure.
In working on my research question, I wish I had one set end goal that would open all doors to my effectiveness. I can't figure out if I should focus on time, task, bigger mission, daily self-regulation, efficacy, reflection or something else entirely. My challenge is to feel like I choose the things that I care about and continue to work on them regularly. To Bill's entry on daVinci, do I focus on many things, completing one, or just be in the learning process as an end in itself?
I originally came up with a focus on time because that is controllable. I can go out and run for 50 minutes much more easily than convincing myself to run 6 miles, which makes the run about one end goal. I can get up and read for 20 minutes, but not be nearly as effective in motivating myself to read a full article. It is more in discipline to sit down than in task that I am initially successful, despite research that says time is irrelevant.
I feel like the answer to my longer-term success is some big mystery but maybe I need to continue to explore with the hat of incremental theory rather than my current entity theory approach.
From Fear to Inspiration!!
YIKES!! This entry is less for others comments and more about a one sided confessional. Though I started the blogging exercise a month ago with great enthusiasm, after the last class, I have completely been ignoring the site. I feel a huge amount of relief to even be sitting her typing as I thought I would explode from avoidance. I think when the comments were made about all the assignments, stepping up the blog and the few weeks remaining, I turned off. To overcome this, my one goal was to just write these thoughts, so that maybe it would give me permission to not focus on everything or being brilliant, but simply on telling you all that I am afraid.
Today I started looking over others thoughts and loving the strategies, pondering, personality and growth you are writing about. Thank you for sharing yourselves and providing great inspiration for effectiveness. In reading your words, I forget that we are in a class and that the work is connected to assignments, which is what I needed.
Today I started looking over others thoughts and loving the strategies, pondering, personality and growth you are writing about. Thank you for sharing yourselves and providing great inspiration for effectiveness. In reading your words, I forget that we are in a class and that the work is connected to assignments, which is what I needed.
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