Abstract
Background
Grit is defined as the “perseverance and passion for long-term goals” and is cited in numerous studies as a predictor of academic achievement. However, research indicates that grit seems to be affected by cultural and demographic factors. This research was aimed at ascertaining whether student’s levels of grit and other demographic factors influence their academic performance in the South African context. Whilst this topic has been investigated in numerous populations, including chiropractic students overseas, literature surrounding it in the South African cultural sphere is sparse. There have been no studies that investigate grit levels in South African chiropractic students and whether there is any correlation between their levels of grit and their academic performance. Secondary demographical data was also investigated for any possible correlations.
Research Methodology
The survey was distributed to chiropractic students studying within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The study was a quantitative cross-sectional design. The survey was distributed to classes via their respective class representatives. It consisted of 13 questions which took 15 minutes to complete. The questionnaire that was used was the Grit-S Scale, additional questions, such as age, secondary school curriculum and sex was included. The data was then collated and analysed with the help of statistical consulting services (STATKON). Permission for the study was granted by the institution as well as the Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences and its ethics boards. The study population consisted of the 203 students that were in the aforementioned years of the degree program. Study participation was voluntary and completely anonymous.
Results
The total response rate was 56% (n=113) of the eligible study populace of n=203 students. This study found no statistically significant correlations between grit and academic performance in either the overall sample, or in any of the secondary demographics. However, within this study, higher levels of grit was seen in males (3.59 in males versus 3.50 for females), those that were older-than 22 years of age (3.62 in older than 22 years of age versus 3.46 in younger than 22 years of age), and in postgraduates (3.57 in postgraduates versus 3.48 in
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undergraduates). This study found no difference in grit levels between CAPS and IEB curricula.
In terms of academic performance, this study saw higher average results in the female study sample (7.95 in the female group and 7.89 in the male group), those aged 22 years of age and younger (7.96 in the younger than 22 years of age and 7.91 in the older than 22 years of age), in the postgraduate group (8.01 in the postgraduate group and 7.88 in the undergraduate group) and those who studied the CAPS curriculum (8.00 in the CAPS group and 7.92 in the IEB group).
Conclusion
The study found no correlation between grit and academic performance in the UJ chiropractic cohort. However, there were variations within grit and academic performance between the secondary demographics analysis. Despite these promising insights, it is critical to acknowledge the limitations inherent in grit research and self-reported academic achievement. Self-report bias, subjectivity and cultural variances can affect the accuracy of the obtained results. Further studies with a larger study sample will be needed to confirm any interactions between the various demographic variables. Future research should further endeavour to address these limitations by conducting longitudinal study parameters as well as cross-cultural comparisons and other psychological and environmental factors that may be external influences of results obtained in studies investigating grit. Overall, whilst grit is a valuable trait that has been shown to contribute to long-term success, it is affected by various factors that likely influence outcomes. A holistic approach that considers an array of personal and contextual variables will provide a far more nuanced understanding of achievement and success.