Exploring Grit among Hispanic Undergraduates at a South Texas Hispanic-Serving Institution

Although an increasing number of Latinx students are enrolling in higher education, only a small percentage graduate from two and four-year universities compared to their counterparts. This study explored the relationship between demographic variables and grit scores among undergraduate students. Grit, defined as the perseverance and passion for long-term goals (Duckworth, 2009), has gained significant attention in education research due to its association with academic success and performance. This study utilized a quantitative research design to compare grit scores between junior and senior undergraduate students. A total of 166 participants were included in the analysis, with 69 respondents classified as juniors and 97 as seniors. This study's data was collected using the 12-question Grit Scale (Duckworth & Quinn, 2009). The survey was emailed to undergraduate students who have persisted in their university studies and enrolled in the spring semester of 2024 as juniors or seniors. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on grit and student success by shedding light on the differences in grit scores among genders, classifications, differences in age, and emergent bilingual status. Practical implications are discussed emphasizing the need for interventions and support mechanisms to nurture grit and enhance student success across academic stages. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]