Bandura’s Self-Efficacy

Presented by Caley Foster

Outline

Background Definition of Self-efficacy Reciprocal Determinism Formation of Self-efficacy Effects of Self-efficacy Beliefs Self-efficacy & Job Performance Implications for Trainers Work Self-efficacy Inventory Self-efficacy & Academics Summary

Background on Self-efficacy

Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory Expanded on Social Learning Theory (Miller &

Dollard, 1941) Actions and reactions of an individual are

influenced by observed actions of others Role of observational learning and social

experience in personality development Self-efficacy lies at the heart of this theory

Self-efficacy Defined

“Perceived self-efficacy is defined as people’s beliefs about their capabilities to produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that effect their lives” (Bandura, 1994).

High self-efficacy Belief that one can perform well

Low self-efficacy Belief that one lacks the ability to perform well

Reciprocal Determinism

Theory set forth by Bandura in 1986 View that (1) personal factors in the form of

cognition, affect, & biological events, (2) behavior, and (c) environmental influences create interactions that result in a triadic reciprocality

Formation of Self-efficacy

Self-efficacy is formed in part through four major psychological processes Cognitive Motivational Affective Selection

Formation of Self-efficacy:Cognitive

Beliefs in efficacy shape the types of anticipatory scenarios they form and rehearse High self-efficacy -- successful scenarios Low self-efficacy -- dwell on possibility of failure, what can

go wrong

Those with resilient sense of efficacy in face of difficult tasks set more challenging goals Success gives confidence and competence, thus

reaffirming high efficacy

Formation of Self-efficacy:Motivational

Attribution Theory High-efficacy people attribute failures to insufficient

effort. Low-efficacy people attribute failure to low ability.

Expectancy-value theory expectations High-Expect success; Low-expect failure

Goal-setting Goals lower for low-efficacy High-efficacy, higher goals, greater sense of

achievement

Formation of Self-efficacy:Affective

High-efficacy people generally feel less threatened by challenges and more likely to consider them exciting

Low-efficacy can produce depression and anxiety

Formation of Self-efficacy:Selection Processes

People avoid activities and situations they believe exceed their coping capabilities.

People undertake challenging activities and select situations they consider themselves capable of handling.

Self-efficacy vs Self-efficacy Beliefs

”People's level of motivation, affective states, and actions are based more on what they believe than on what is objectively true.”

Effects of self-efficacy beliefs Choice behavior Effort expenditure and persistence Thought patterns and emotional reactions Humans as producers vs foretellers of behavior

Effects of Beliefs Explored:Choice Behavior

Tendency to avoid involvement in tasks where efficacy is low

Generally engage in tasks where efficacy is high

High-efficacy/low skill can result in irreparable harm

Low-efficacy/high skill doesn’t allow for growth

Effects of Beliefs Explored:Effort Expenditure & Persistence

Stronger perceived self-efficacy results in more vigorous/persistent efforts

Individuals with high self-efficacy may feel less of a need to invest much effort in preparation

When applying skills, high-efficacy intensifies and maintains the effort required to realize a difficult performance Difficult for someone with low-efficacy

Effects of Beliefs Explored:Thought Patterns & Emotional Reactions

Low-efficacy individuals believe things are more difficult than they actually are Creates stress and narrow vision

High-efficacy people devote attention and energy to demands of the situation and perceive obstacles as challenges

High-efficacy people attribute failure to insufficient effort

Low-efficacy people relate failure to deficient ability

Effects of Beliefs Explored:Behavior Producers vs Foretellers

People with high self-efficacy act, think, and feel differently from those with low self-efficacy. They create their own futures, rather than foretell it.

Self-efficacy & Job Performance

r =.38 for self-efficacy and work-related performance Skills unaccompanied by positive self-efficacy will

lead to deficient or absent performance. Low-efficacy individuals are more stressed and

unhappier than high-efficacy people High-efficacy/High-skill people may lack the

incentive to perform well. Task uncertainty can mislead efficacy judgments

Implications for Trainers Self-efficacy is strengthened through a combination of

practice and the conditions and consequences that accompany the practice of such skills. Disparities in self-efficacy will occur if efficacy is measured for a

simulated situation and performance is measured in a real situation, or vice versa.

5 ways to strengthen efficacy Performance mastery Task-diagnostic feedback Modeling Social persuasion Inference from physiological information

The Work Self-Efficacy Inventory (WS-Ei)

Dr. Joe Raelin developed the Work Self-efficacy Inventory (WS-Ei) to measure a range of behaviors/practices related to self-efficacy in the workplace.

Seven 5-point Likert-type scales Not at all Confident to Completely Confident 30 items in 7 dimensions and composite score

M = 3.8, SD =.6 Cronbach’s Alpha ~.80 for subscores & composite Strong convergent & divergent validity Two forms - self or other

WS-Ei sample

Self-efficacy & Academics Beliefs students create, develop, and hold to be true about

themselves greatly contribute to success or failure in school

Most influential is a student’s mastery experience Interpretation of performance-success or failure

Vicarious experience emphasizes teacher’s role Self-efficacy beliefs influence college students’ choices of

majors and career decisions Efficacy beliefs of teachers are related to their instructional

practices, which in turn relate to student outcomes Students’ academic self-efficacy beliefs strongly influence

academic performance and achievement

Summary

Self-efficacy is one’s belief about his/her capabilities to perform

Self-efficacy beliefs can influence behaviors in the workplace, academics, etc

Efforts should be taken to increase self-efficacy in individuals

Questions? Comments?