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

TLDR

The Short Grit Scale (Grit–S) is a brief self‑report measure that retains the two‑factor structure of the original Grit Scale and, with four fewer items, offers improved psychometric properties for assessing perseverance and passion for long‑term goals. In this article, the authors introduce brief self‑report and informant‑report versions of the Grit Scale to measure trait‑level perseverance and passion for long‑term goals. The study evaluates the Grit–S by demonstrating its internal consistency, test–retest stability, consensual validity with informant‑report versions, and predictive validity. Across diverse populations, the Grit–S predicts positive outcomes—higher educational attainment and fewer career changes in adults, better GPA and less television viewing in adolescents, higher retention among military cadets, and greater final round attainment in spelling‑bee competitors, the latter mediated by lifetime practice.

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 Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D. and Kelly, D. R. 2007. Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology., 92: 1087–1101. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) 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.