Relationship between GRIT and Cognitive Flexibility: A Study to Understand Linguistic Advantages

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to systematically examine the network of relations among GRIT, Cognitive Flexibility, and the role of linguistic ability (Bilingual and Multilingual) among language enthusiasts. Over the years, language has been extensively studied whilst focusing on the social, environmental, and cognitive factors which contribute to the language acquisition process but concluding on an individual’s ability only with these factors does not suffice. The past researches unveil that a successful acquisition and mastery of a new language is said to be complex and a multidimensional process that is highly dependent on learners’ effort. The notion of Grit and its relation with language acquisition gains immediate relevance, as Grit is a combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals and has been identified as an important predictor of success across a different population in various areas (Duckworth,2013). The data consisted of 80 individuals and the questionnaire was administered with the help of an online portal via self-report assessments and was assessed and analyzed accordingly with appropriate tools. The results indicated that there is no significant difference in Grit and Cognitive Flexibility concerning gender or linguistic ability. The study also further found a significant moderate correlation between Grit and Cognitive Flexibility.