The objective of this paper is to investigate the beliefs of intelligence, effort and luck among Brazilian students. The sample was composed of 110 students of third, fifth, and seventh grade of a public school of Campinas. Subjects were from both sexes and from low socio-economic background. Participants were interviewed individually and their beliefs were measured by opened and closed--end questions. Intelligence was predominantly conceptualized as wisdom. Effort was associated with behaviors related to studying and luck was defined as winning or finding something unexpectedly. Significant relationships were found among the beliefs investigated and age, school grade level, gender and repetition of a school grade level. The importance of knowing and comphreending the development of beliefs about intelligence, effort and luck in Brazilian students is discussed, given the relevance of such beliefs for educational psychology, as well as the lack of such studies in Brazil.
Beliefs; intelligence; effort; luck; elementary school
