An analysis of Turkish students’ perception of intelligence from primary school to university

The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the features of intelligence perceptions according to age, gender, class level, school success level and university departments. Two different scales by Dweck (2000) for both adults and children were translated into Turkish. These scales were then applied to 1350 Turkish students ranging from fourth-grade primary school to fourth-year university. Results showed that student scores relating to the perception that intelligence is an unchangeable feature in accordance with age, gender, class level, school success level and university departments were higher than the scores relating to the perception that intelligence is a malleable feature. In the terminology of mindset theory, these students were more likely to reveal evidence of fixed than growth mindsets.