Social Self-Efficacy in Virtual Versus Face-to-Face Environments

• In Event: Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Learner Characteristics

Abstract

This study compared 535 high school students’ efficacy for engaging in social interactions in virtual environments to their self-efficacy in face-to-face environments, specifically for both academic and non-academic tasks. A comparison of social self efficacy in face to face non-academic environments and social self efficacy in a virtual non-academic environment suggests that students perceive themselves as more socially efficacious in a virtual environment when performing non-academic tasks. However, no significant difference in efficacy exists when comparing academic tasks in virtual and face to face platforms. Given students’ affinity for engaging in social tasks virtually, and the lack of difference in efficacy when engaging in academic tasks, attention to task design is important when integrating virtual environments for academic pursuits.

Authors

• Gena A. Khodos, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Michael Manderino, Northern Illinois University