UCL School of Management Honorary Associate Professor Chia-Jung Tsay has recently been featured in an article published by The New York Times in recognition of her research surrounding natural ability versus hard work. The article, entitled ‘No, You Don’t Get an A For Effort’ addresses the seemingly recent emergence of discussions centred upon whether effort and hard work should trump - or at least match - contributions from formal assessment.

Exploring the impact of messaging to young people, author Adam Grant notes that praising learners for their natural abilities could unintentionally result in a weaker resilience, meaning they are likely to give up when their innate talent fails to show itself in key moments. Instead, Grant argues, praising and rewarding effort - as opposed to ability - cultivates a strong work ethic, builds resilience and reinforces learning.

Citing Chia’s research, which addresses the societal preference of ‘naturals’ over ‘strivers’ and the subsequent development of what she refers to as the ‘naturalness bias’, the author notes that such dichotomies may impact students from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds. Chia’s work in this area is also reflected in a research paper published in 2023 entitled ‘Talented naturals are perceived as more competent and trustworthy than hard workers’. Focusing on three studies, the paper explored reactions to individuals and protagonists based on perceived ideas surrounding what constitutes hard work versus natural ability and found that, even in cultures which place higher value on effort, there is a still a societal and cultural preference for those with natural ability.

Read the full article (subscription required) or explore more of Chia’s research.