Reciprocal Effects of Self-Efficacy and Achievement in Mathematics

• In Event: Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: Cognition and Motivation in STEM

Abstract

Reciprocal determinism is a central posit of Bandura’s (1978, 1986) social cognitive theory. However, empirical evidence to support this postulated mutual influence of self-beliefs and performance is sparse, particularly with respect to self-efficacy and achievement. Using the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) data, this study attempts to model the reciprocal effects of self-efficacy and performance in mathematics. The structural equations modeling (SEM) analyses show that reciprocal determinism of mathematics self-efficacy and achievement was supported. Although the patterns of reciprocal determinism for girls and boys are similar, path coefficients relating prior and subsequent variables were different across the two groups.

Author

• Guan Saw, Michigan State University