Development and Validation of the Short Grit Scale (Grit–S)

Abstract

In this article, we introduce brief self-report and informant-report versions of the Grit Scale, which measures trait-level perseverance and passion for long-term goals. The Short Grit Scale (Grit–S) retains the 2-factor structure of the original Grit Scale (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007) with 4 fewer items and improved psychometric properties. We present evidence for the Grit–S's internal consistency, test–retest stability, consensual validity with informant-report versions, and predictive validity. Among adults, the Grit–S was associated with educational attainment and fewer career changes. Among adolescents, the Grit–S longitudinally predicted GPA and, inversely, hours watching television. Among cadets at the United States Military Academy, West Point, the Grit–S predicted retention. Among Scripps National Spelling Bee competitors, the Grit–S predicted final round attained, a relationship mediated by lifetime spelling practice.

Notes

¹ CFI is a noncentrality index that compares the proposed model to the independence model.

² RMSEA is the parsimony adjusted index of the discrepancy between observed and implied covariances.

^a Spearman's rho correlation coefficients.

*p < .001.

^a Nagelkerke R ².

*p < .01.

^a Nagelkerke R ².

*p < .05.

^a Controlling for age.

*p < .001.

^a Nagelkerke R ².

*p < .001.

^a Correlation between grit and natural log transformation of cumulative spelling practice.

^b Spearman's rho correlation coefficient.

*p < .05.

^a Nagelkerke R ².

*p < .05.

^a Controlling for age

^b Percentage of variance estimated using Nagelkerke R ²

^c In comparison with the other subscale, significantly stronger association with outcome according to a test for correlated correlation coefficients (Meng, Rosenthal, & Rubin, 1992).