Motivating High-Ability, Secondary School Students from Low SES Families: An Exploratory Pilot Study of an Intervention

Inequity in education is a topical issue in many countries worldwide. The present investigation study was an exploratory, mixed-method pilot study with a pretest-intervention/posttest design, in which an intervention aimed at motivating high-ability secondary school students from low-SES backgrounds was developed and piloted. Two questionnaires were administered and qualitative data were collected by recordings of the intervention meetings, student materials, and a focus group interview after the intervention. The results were promising: Students all reached their self-set goals and reported the learning activities to be useful. Based on the findings of this small pilot study (N = 8), the intervention—consisting of psychoeducation, goal setting, and hope-based activities—appears to have the potential to support students in progressing from their abilities to developing competencies.