Effort optimism is the confidence that acquiring the skills valued by majority society, such as those skills measured by IQ tests, ACT, and SATs, are worthwhile. Lack of effort optimism has often been described as an important part of the achievement gap between students with majority and minority background in the American educational system. In this interpretation, minority students under-achieve because they have no confidence that performing well in the school system will, in fact, help them advance socially in the face of perceived discrimination. Effort  optimism refers to how strongly a student believes their hard work/effort in school will pay off with academic/school success.  A strong conviction generally results in greater success , and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing that belief. When that conviction is weak or nonexistent, students generally experience less success, which reinforces the belief that effort doesn't matter.San Francisco Unified School DistrictEffort Optimism in the Classroom: Attitudes of Black and White Students on Education, Social Structure and Life Opportunities, E Matthew - 2007 - Ohio State University 
Effort optimism is the confidence that acquiring the skills valued by majority society, such as those skills measured by IQ tests, ACT, and SATs, are worthwhile. This outlook is grounded on different cultural belief systems that link effort with success. Effort and success Effort optimism refers to how strongly a student believes their hard work/effort in school will pay off with academic/school success. This is reinforced by the maxim that "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again." A strong conviction generally results in greater success and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing that belief. When that conviction is weak or nonexistent, students generally experience less success, which reinforces the belief that effort doesn't matter.San Francisco Unified School DistrictEffort Optimism in the Classroom: Attitudes of Black and White Students on Education, Social Structure and Life Opportunities, E Matthew - 2007 - Ohio State University Lack of effort optimism has often been described as an important part of the achievement gap between students with majority and minority background in the American educational system. Among minorities, parents are said to articulate a strong belief in education and its role in getting ahead but communicate an ambivalence about whether society will really reward school achievement. In this interpretation, minority students under-achieve because they have no confidence that performing well in the school system will, in fact, help them advance socially in the face of perceived discrimination.
R
Lack of effort optimism has often been described as an important part of the achievement gap between students with majority and minority background in the American educational system. In this interpretation, minority students under-achieve because they have no confidence that performing well in the school system will, in fact, help them advance socially in the face of perceived discrimination. Effort
This outlook is grounded on different cultural belief systems that link effort with success.
A
Effort and success Effort
A
This is reinforced by the maxim that "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
D
,
A
Lack of effort optimism has often been described as an important part of the achievement gap between students with majority and minority background in the American educational system. Among minorities, parents are said to articulate a strong belief in education and its role in getting ahead but communicate an ambivalence about whether society will really reward school achievement. In this interpretation, minority students under-achieve because they have no confidence that performing well in the school system will, in fact, help them advance socially in the face of perceived discrimination.