The Self-Efficacy Scale: Construction and Validation

Abstract

Self-efficacy theory asserts that personal mastery expectations are the primary determinants of behavioral change. Further, it is suggested that individual differences in past experiences and attribution of success to skill or chance result in different levels of generalized self-efficacy expectations. To measure these generalized expectancies, a Self-efficacy Scale was developed. A factor analysis yielded two subscales: a General Self-efficacy subscale (17 items) and a Social Self-efficacy subscale (6 items). Confirmation of several predicted conceptual relationships between the Self-efficacy subscales and other personality measures (i.e., Locus of Control, Personal Control, Social Desirability, Ego Strength, Interpersonal Competence, and Self-esteem) provided evidence of construct validity. Positive relationships between the Self-efficacy Scale and vocational, educational, and military success established criterion validity. Future research and clinical uses of the scale were discussed.

Witness self‐efficacy: Development and validation of the construct

“…This uni-dimensional conception of WSE is in accord with Bandura's (1997) discussion of general self-efficacy, as well as other narrowly defined types of self-efficacy such as selfdefense (Ozer & Bandura, 1990) and social self-efficacy (Sherer et al, 1982).…”

“…Extrapolating from this finding, WSE would show a moderate positive relation with a witness's perceived likelihood of being found not guilty if the witness claims innocence. Previous investigations of varying social self-efficacy scales resulted in: a) a moderate negative correlation with depression in a sample of youth (Muris, 2001), b) a moderate/strong positive relation with social confidence (Muris, 2001), c) a moderate/strong negative relation with shyness in sample of undergraduates (Smith & Betz, 2000), and d) a positive moderate relation with self-esteem in a sample of undergraduates (Sherer et al, 1982). Drawing on these data, WSE would be negatively related to shyness/introversion and depression, and positively correlated with confidence and self-esteem.…”

“…Theory generated an abundance of general and specific self-efficacy measures in areas including general self-efficacy (e.g., Chen, Gully, & Eden, 2001;Sherer, Maddux, Mercadante, PrenticeDunn, Jacobs, & Rogers, 1982), social functioning (Sherer et at., 1982), physical prowess (Ryckman, Robbins, Thornton, & Cantrell, 1982), caregiving (Steffen, McKibbin, Zeiss, Gallagher-Thompson, & Bandura, 2002), teaching ability (e.g., Everett, Price, & Telljohann, 1996), and academic competence (e.g., Yufang, 2004). …”

“…Authors eliminated six items based on conceptual overlap. To assess content validity, two group panels (one comprised of graduate and one of undergraduate students) compared the NGSES and SelfEfficacy Scale (SES; Sherer et al, 1982) in relation to definitions of self-esteem, general selfefficacy, and other constructs. Panelist results showed that the NGSES possesses superior content validity related to the definition of general self-efficacy then does the SES.…”

“…Each item is a statement pertaining to a Social and General Self-Efficacy. Social and general self-efficacy was measured with the Self-Efficacy Scale (SES; Sherer et al, 1982). It consists of 30 items with two subscales: Social self-efficacy (six items) and general self-efficacy (17 items).…”