GABY MARTIN

Albert Bandura: A Study on Self-Efficacy

Biography

Born on December 4, 1925 in Alberta, Canada

Graduated from University of British Columbia with B.A. in psychology in 1949

Received M.A. in 1951 and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at University of Iowa in 1952

Postdoctoral internship at Wichita Guidance Center in Kansas

Biography

Joined faculty at Stanford University in 1953 Met Robert Sears, a

pioneer in social learning theory

Bandura became interested in social learning theory himself

Elected president of the American Psychological Association 1974

Continues to teach at Stanford today

Social Learning Theory

We learn to interact with one another to obtain rewards Similar to Skinner

We learn in social situations Through imitation By observing models

Bandura’s studies: Powerful effects models have on behavior

Bobo doll studies How our efforts affect our beliefs in our capacities (self-

efficacy)

Socialization Studies

Socialization is the process by which societies influence the behavior of their members

Bandura’s studies: Aggression (Bobo doll) Gender roles Prosocial behavior Self-regulation: when a person begins to depend

less on externalities in society to regulate his/her own behavior

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is “the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action to manage prospective situations” Involves self-observation which is when a person

observes his/her own performance and compares it to his/her own standards

Self-efficacy appraisal: a conclusion made after a performance on one’s general ability “I’m not good at math”

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy comes from Actual performance: failure or success Vicarious experience: failure or success of others Verbal persuasion: pep talks Physiololgical cues: bodily cues

Statement of Problem How do actual performance, vicarious experience,

verbal persuasion and physiological cues affect a child’s self-efficacy?

Do these sources of self-efficacy really make a great impact on a child’s performance?

My Study

Setting St. Clement’s Episcopal School in El Paso, TX

Procedure 20 8th grade students divided into four groups:

Actual performance Vicarious experience Verbal persuasion Physiological cues

Each group took a quick math test along with a questionnaire to fill out before and after the test

Each student was asked whether or not they think they are good at math and to predict how well they will do on the test

Each test was graded and each questionnaire was evaluated to establish a sense of each student’s self-efficacy

My Study

Hypotheses The students’ self-efficacy will be affected by

vicarious experience and especially by actual performance. Bandura explains that the process of self-regulation takes in actual performance through self-observation in order to make an assessment about one’s own performance. One will then perform accordingly with his/her evaluation.

Students’ sense of self-efficacy will have a major impact on performance (test scores).

The students’ performance (test scores) will be also be impacted by vicarious experience, verbal persuasion and physiological cues.

Questionnaire

How was each student’s self-efficacy evaluated?

Rubric Answers to questions:

Self-efficacy evaluation:

“YES” / “GOOD” “SOMETIMES” / “IN THE MIDDLE”

“NO” / “BAD”

+2 +1 +0

POSITIVE MEDIUM NEGATIVE

4 3 2 1 0

Results

Group 1: Actual Performance

First Predictions Second Predictions

Name Sex Age Do you think you are good at math?

How well do you think you will do? Score How well do you think you will

do? Self-Efficacy Score

Adrian M 14 Yes Good 7/8 Good 4

Ximena F 13 Sometimes In the middle 7/8 Good 2

Paulo M 14 Sometimes In the middle 4/8 In the middle 2

Lauren F 14 Sometimes In the middle 4/8 In the middle 2

Paola F 13 Sometimes In the middle 4/8 In the middle 2

Results

Group 2: Vicarious Experience

Predictions

Name Sex Age Do you think you are good at math? After peers, how well do you think you will do? Score Self-Efficacy Score

Pita F 14 Yes Good 6/8 4

Regina F 13 Yes In the middle 4/8 3

Luis M 14 Sometimes In the middle 4/8 2

Estefania F 13 Sometimes In the middle 5/8 2

Eduardo M 14 Sometimes Bad 3/8 1

Results

Group 3: Verbal Persuasion

Predictions

Name Sex Age Do you think you are good at math? How well do you think you will do? Score Self-Efficacy Score

Viviana F 14 Sometimes In the middle 5/8 2

Nicholas M 13 Sometimes Good 5/8 3

Manuel M 14 Yes In the middle 4/8 3

Daniel M 14 Yes Good 4/8 4

Megan F 14 Sometimes In the middle 4/8 2

Results

Group 4: Physiological Cues

Predictions

Name Sex Age Do you think you are good at math? How well do you think you will do? How are you feeling? Score Self-Efficacy Score

Paxton F 13 Sometimes In the middle Tired 2/8 2

Hannah F 14 Sometimes In the middle Tired 4/8 2

Kevin M 13 Sometimes In the middle I feel kinda nervous 4/8 2

Jose M 14 Yes In the middle Sick and tired 2/8 3

Mary Jo F 13 Sometimes In the middle Tired and bored 3/8 2

Results

Results

Results

Changes in Self-Efficacy

Group 1: Actual PerformanceFirst Predictions Second Predictions

Good at math? How will you do? Self-Efficacy Score How will you do? Second Self-Efficacy ScoreAdrian M 14 Yes Good 4 Good 4Ximena F 13 Sometimes In the middle 2 Good 3Paulo M 14 Sometimes In the middle 2 In the middle 2

Lauren F 14 Sometimes In the middle 2 In the middle 2Paola F 13 Sometimes In the middle 2 In the middle 2

Group 2: Vicarious ExperiencePredictions

Good at math? How will you do? Self-Efficacy Score After peers, how will you do? Second Self-Efficacy ScorePita F 14 Yes In the middle 3 Good 4

Regina F 13 Yes In the middle 3 In the middle 3Luis M 14 Sometimes In the middle 2 In the middle 2

Estefania F 13 Sometimes In the middle 2 In the middle 2Eduardo M 14 Sometimes In the middle 2 Bad 1

Conclusion

Two of my hypotheses were proven incorrect

This was because the research was very limited Very small sample of students Much data was inconclusive

Bandura is not wrong

Did You Know?

Did you know that a bandura is a musical instrument? It is often described as the voice of Ukraine. From a musical perspective, the bandura unifies acoustic principles of both the lute and the harp. This produces a sound that is both emphatic and gentle, resembling that of a harpsichord, but with a wider range of dynamics and tonal control.