Exploring engineering mindset

An optional survey instrument is used to investigate the mindset of engineering and computer-science students at a mid-sized, private university in the United States. The instrument was based on modification of prior survey instruments on mindset as well as student interpretation of talent and intelligence. With nearly 1/3 of the students responding, a significant data base was generated for student of mindset and student perceptions. In the present paper, a portion of the survey results are analyzed in an effort to explore: (i) what diversity of mindset is carried by first-year students into the university experience, (ii) how mindset evolves during the undergraduate experience, and (iii) whether differences in mindset can be identified by gender or discipline. Through multiple statistical analyses, the survey results indicate that the distribution of mindset is relatively diverse among the first-year students, but biased towards an open mindset (versus fixed mindset). There is also evidence that the mindset shifts somewhat towards fixed mindset as the students progress towards their final year. Differences in responses from students from different disciplines are noted, but no significant difference in mindset is observed by gender.