Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Self-efficacy'

Sverige avsätter idag över en miljard kronor på att hjälpa arbetslösa att starta eget och därmed bli entreprenörer. Hög self-efficacy är en grundförutsättning för att lyckas som entreprenör och våra erfarenheter av att lyckas är den enskilt största källan till self-efficacy. Miljön som arbetslös är både fysiskt och psykiskt påfrestande och ofta kantad av motgångar, något som i teorin skulle kunna leda till sänkt self-efficacy. Studiens syfte var att undersöka om arbetslösas self-efficacy förändras med tiden de förblir arbetslösa. En enkätundersökning med 107 arbetslösa från en arbetsförmedling i Mellansverige genomfördes. Resultatet visade inte på något samband mellan långtidsarbetslöshet och sänkt self-efficacy. Studien visade däremot på flera intressanta skillnader i hur starkt de olika informationskällorna bidrog till self-efficacy.

Individens tro på den egna förmågan benämns self-efficacy och är en viktig del vid avgörandet av hur en uppgift ska lösas, samt av hur resultatet blir. När individer presterar spelar feedback en central roll för om det kommer att skapas motivation att uppnå målen eller inte. Ovan nämnda begrepp är även centrala för den kollektiva self-efficacy som är gruppens tro på sin förmåga. Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur en individs self-efficacy påverkas vid ett negativt utfall inom ett prestationsområde. En enkätundersökning med 81 lagidrottsspelare genomfördes i Västmanlands län. Resultatet visade att det fanns en nedgång i skattad self-efficacy efter ett negativt resultat på en match. Studien visade även på sänkningar i skattad motivationen och kollektiv self-efficacy samt en höjning i upplevd feedback. Slutligen diskuteras vad anledningen till de sänkningar berodde på samt hur vidare forskning kan undersöka saken djupare.

The study examined the sense of self-efficacy that clergy experience while providing pastoral care by analyzing 104 pastors' responses to the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES). The variables that predicted higher self-efficacy scores included the number of years the participant worked as a pastor, the number of hours spent each week in counseling activities, and the number of counseling/pastoral care courses completed during seminary or pastoral training. Training with clinical pastoral education (CPE) and lay counseling activities, however, predicted lower CASES scores. This regression model accounted for 29% of the variance in CASES scores. Clergy reported significantly lower self-efficacy in their counseling skills in the Counseling Challenges factor of the CASES than in the Helping Skills and Session Management factors. This suggests that the pastors experience the lowest counseling self-efficacy (CSE) when faced with challenges such as severe psychopathology or manipulative individuals. The results carry implications for the training and continuing education that is offered to clergy. The study suggests that it could be beneficial with clergy training to focus on the areas in which CSE was lowest and on the variables that are associated with higher CSE.

College tuition costs have risen 33% in the past ten years (NCES, 2016a), forcing college administrators to refocus their efforts on student retention in order to stay competitive (Alarcon & Edwards, 2012; Sanders, Daly, & Fitzgerald, 2016; Tinto, 2006). Although universities have implemented support programs to help students in these areas, students are still failing.

Students with low self-efficacy lack motivation and lack self-regulation skills, putting them at a higher risk of discontinuing. Self-efficacy not only impacts academic performance (Bandura, 1982, 1997; Budescu & Silverman, 2016, Gallagher, Marques, & Lopez, 2016), but it also influences how students handle challenges (Al-Harthy & Was, 2013; Han, Farruggia, & Moss, 2017), impacts their level of self-discipline (Komarraju & Nadler, 2013), and their self-regulation strategies (Chemers, Hu, & Garcia, 2001).

This quantitative study investigated student perceptions of academic self-efficacy after having experienced academic challenges, defined by academic probation, suspension, or dismissal, during their first year. The relationship between academic probation types was studied in comparison with academic variables: cumulative GPA, academic cohort, and type of academic challenge.

The sample included undergraduate students from a mid-size, private institution in New England. Participants (N = 724) were emailed a link to a questionnaire consisting of self-rated statements created by the researcher and derived from the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995). Respondent data (N = 59) was exported to Excel and then SPSS® for analysis. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha, a t-test, and one-way ANOVA were conducted.

Results showed that students who were once academically at-risk demonstrated higher self-efficacy in managing difficult problems, learning new material, feeling motivated to succeed in courses, and havingconfidence in their academic abilities. These students also demonstrated lower academic self-efficacy in their ability to understand difficult course material and choosing to complete optional assignments even if it did not guarantee them a good grade. There was no significant relationship between cohort and academic self-efficacy score. Although not statistically significant, results showed a trend indicating that the higher the cumulative GPA, the higher the academic self-efficacy score.

These findings may help administrators better understand student academic self-efficacy and tailor support services to help this population.

Gender, physiological states, self-regulation, and writing achievement in relation to student writing self-efficacy were examined using a mixed-method approach. Student writing self-efficacy, physiological states, and self-regulation were investigated through surveys and student interviews. Male and female students were selected from two northeast Georgia suburban high schools. Student achievement was measured from the Georgia Milestones test given to 11th grade Language Arts students. A 3 x 2 ANOVA was conducted to research the significance of gender, physiological states, self-regulation, and achievement with writing. Students were given two surveys on self-regulation and writing self-efficacy.

Findings revealed certain physiological states, such as how a student feels when writing, and self-regulation, how a student copes with these physiological states and how the student adjusts to overcome these obstacles significantly interact with one another. However, writing self-efficacy did not make a significant difference on writing achievement. Writing self-efficacy, physiological states, self-regulation, and writing achievement were gender neutral, meaning gender did not have a significant interaction or make a difference on the results of the surveys or achievement in writing through the Georgia Milestones.

This research was conducted so that findings could be of value to educators when teaching writing and help them understand the intrinsic value of writing, as well as to make educators aware of the physiological states students experience when writing, to help them better understand how students self-regulate when writing, and to demonstrate how this may play a role in writing achievement.

Syftet var att undersöka handbollsspelares generella efficacy, individuella - och kollektiva efficacy inom handbollssituationer samt nivån av utövandet. Studien bestod av två delar. Den första var kvantitativ med två frågeformulär; Schwarzers och Jerusalems Generell Self-Efficacy Scale samt Chase, Feltz och Lirggs Team Efficacy Questionnaire. Två lag från elitnivå (n=36) och två från lägre nivå (n=37) representerades. Resultatet visade att handbollsspelare på högre nivå har en högre grad av self-efficacy och kollektivt efficacy än de på lägre nivån. Den kvalitativa delen bestod av fyra intervjuer, två från varje nivå. Resultatet indikerade till särdrag mellan grupperna, gällande vad self-efficacy och kollektivt efficacy baserades på. Fortsatt forskning kring området är väsentligt för att öka förståelsen för spelares och ledares handlingar, därav kunna höja prestationen.

The purpose was to examine handballsplayers general efficacy, self-efficacy, collective efficacy and two levels within the sport. The study had two parts. Part one had a quantitative approach with two questionnaires; General Self-efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) and Team Efficacy Questionnaire (Chase, Feltz & Lirgg, 2003). Two teams of the highest (n= 36) and two teams of a lower (n= 37) level were represented. The result showed that the athletes in the higher level had higher Self-Efficacy and Collective Efficacy. Part two was qualitative and contained four interviews. The result indicated that there was a difference between the two levels within the sport. Continued research is important to increase the comprehension in this area, and there for increase the athletes’ performances.

A self-esteem that is contingent on affirmation from others leaves the individual psychologically vulnerable. A contingent self-esteem has been shown to be either relationship or competence based. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between relationship based self-esteem, competence based self-esteem, the under dimensions of those, and self-efficacy. Questionnaires were handed out to 69 university students. The results indicated that competence based self-esteem predicted a significantly low self-efficacy. Only some of the under dimensions were significant predictors. The vulnerability of the contingent self-esteem is discussed in the light of the findings.

The general aim of this work was to evaluate the outcome of specialised stroke rehabilitation and to examine the relation between both subjectively perceived and objectively assessed balance and impairments and some activity limitations. A further, integrated aim was to establish some psychometric properties and the usability of a newly developed Falls-Efficacy Scale, Swedish version (FES(S)) in stroke rehabilitation.

Seventy-three patients younger than 70 years of age with a first stroke and reduced walking ability were randomised into an intervention group (walking on a treadmill with body weight support) and a control group (walking on the ground). Time points of assessment were: on admission for rehabilitation, at discharge and 10 months after stroke. Walking training on a treadmill with body weight support and walking training on the ground were found to be equally effective in the early rehabilitation. The patients in both groups improved their walking velocity, motor function, balance, self-efficacy and ADL performance.

In a geriatric sample of 37 stroke patients examined at similar time points, significant improvements in self-efficacy, motor function, balance, ambulation and ADL occurred from admission to discharge independently of age. In comparison with observer-based balance measures, FES(S) at discharge was the most powerful predictor of ADL performance 10 months after onset of stroke.

In 30 patients with stable stroke, the overall test-retest reliability of FES(S) was found to be adequate. The internal consistency confirmed that FES(S) has an adequate homogeneity.

In a subsample of 62 patients from the original sample and in the geriatric sample, FES(S) correlated significantly with Berg’s balance scale, the Fugl-Meyer balance scale, with motor function and with gait performance. In the relatively younger group ADL (measured by the Functional Independence Measurement) correlated significantly with FES(S) on admission and at 10 months follow-up, while at discharge none of the FES(S) measures correlated significantly with ADL. In this subsample effect size statistics for detecting changes in FES(S) demonstrated very acceptable responsiveness of this scale during the early treatment period and during the total observation period

In the light of these findings assessment and treatment of self-efficacy seems relevant in stroke rehabilitation.