This post went far longer than I intended. Once I got started I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole and may have strayed from the path at times. That being said, I felt like I made some progress in my planning which is what this is all about, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember reading Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective (Bandura, 1999a) way back in LRNT521 (feels like forever ago) and feeling that I wanted to learn more about the theory of self-efficacy. In developing the focus of my applied research project (ARP), I came back to the idea of self-efficacy and the role it plays in the education and future work of my students. This led me to select self-efficacy theory (SET) as the theoretical framework for my ARP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, I have been reading more specific works by Bandura (1977, 1999b, 2004) on SET to better understand the theory’s scope and how I might apply it to my research on the topic of growing self-efficacy with assessments. Though I find the reading fascinating, I do not have much experience with psychology (how much can you expect from a graphic designer?) and the reading is going slower than I had hoped. I’ll get there in time. I have saved numerous other articles to broaden my understanding of applications and assessments for SET (Chen et al., 2001; Erlich & Russ-Eft, 2011; Schunk, 1990; Yokoyama, 2019); counter arguments (Bandura, 1995; Hawkins, 1995); and the specific area of creative self-efficacy (CSE) (Alzoubi et al., 2016; Farmer, 2017; Karwowski, 2011; Liu et al., 2016; Mathisen & Bronnick, 2009; P. Tierney & S. M. Farmer, 2011; Pretz & Nelson, 2017; Puente-D\u00edaz, 2016). These will take me some time to get through but I\u2019m looking forward to the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bandura originally developed SET as a subfactor within his social cognitive theory (SCT) (Bandura, 1999a). This theory offers that the mutual interplay of behavioural, environmental, and emotional factors \u2014 some we can control and some we cannot \u2014 shape our ability to affect the world around us. Or at least I\u2019m fairly certain that this explains SCT. Within SCT, general self-efficacy (GSE) relates to our perception that we are capable of overcoming obstacles and achieving the results we expect from ourselves within a specific task (Bandura, 1977). Though concepts like self-esteem or self-confidence are connected to GSE in their ability to influence our task performance, self-esteem relates to more to self-worth than ability (Chen et al., 2004) and self-confidence is a positive belief in our abilities whether or not we truly have those abilities (B\u00e9nabou & Tirole, 2002). In contrast, GSE expectations are based on not only our internal feelings (referred to as emotional arousal), but also prior performance, observations of others, and encouragement received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These four sources will be the structure for all my research as I aim uncover how they can be used within assessments (whether formative and summative) to improve students’ belief that they are capable of overcoming challenges and reaching their objectives in relation to the creative tasks in their program. Additionally, I want to understand how I can measure their self-efficacy to discern how it is changing during their time in the program. I will also be looking at how specifics of CSE will influence the style of these assessments to build self-efficacy that most applies to their chosen field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having done more research and writing, I now feel there are minor changes needed in my ARP. First, specifying that I am looking at creative self-efficacy rather than general self-efficacy. Second, the term \u201cvisual design\u201d is proving too vague and can be replace with \u201cgraphic design\u201d to improve clarity. I feel these changes will improve the focus of my research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am still uncertain about a few areas of my theoretical framework that would bring much-needed clarity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alzoubi, A., Qudah, M. A., Albursan, I., Bakhiet, S., & Abduljabbar, A. S. (2016). The Effect of Creative Thinking Education in Enhancing Creative Self-Efficacy and Cognitive Motivation. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology<\/em>, 6<\/em>(1), 117\u2013117.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review<\/em>, 84<\/em>(2), 191\u2013215. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/\/0033-295X.84.2.191<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bandura, A. (1995). Comments on the crusade against the causal efficacy of human thought. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry<\/em>, 26<\/em>(3), 179\u2013190. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0005-7916(95)00034-W<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bandura, A. (1999a). Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective. Asian Journal of Social Psychology<\/em>, 2<\/em>(1), 21\u201341. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1467-839X.00024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bandura, A. (1999b). Social cognitive theory of personality. In Lawrence A. Pervin & Oliver P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research<\/em> (2nd ed., pp. 154\u2013196). Guildford Press. http:\/\/www.uky.edu\/~eushe2\/BanduraPubs\/Bandura1999HP.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bandura, A. (2004). Swimming against the mainstream: The early years from chilly tributary to transformative mainstream. Behaviour Research and Therapy<\/em>, 42<\/em>(6), 613\u2013630. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.brat.2004.02.001<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n B\u00e9nabou, R., & Tirole, J. (2002). Self-Confidence and Personal Motivation*. The Quarterly Journal of Economics<\/em>, 117<\/em>(3), 871\u2013915. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1162\/003355302760193913<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chen, G., Gully, S., & Eden, D. (2001). Validation of a New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Organizational Research Methods – ORGAN RES METHODS<\/em>, 4<\/em>(1). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/109442810141004<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chen, G., Gully, S. M., & Eden, D. (2004). General self-efficacy and self-esteem: Toward theoretical and empirical distinction between correlated self-evaluations. Journal of Organizational Behavior<\/em>, 25<\/em>(3), 375\u2013395. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/job.251<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Erlich, R. J., & Russ-Eft, D. (2011). Applying Social Cognitive Theory to Academic Advising to Assess Student Learning Outcomes. NACADA Journal<\/em>, 31<\/em>(2), 5\u201315. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12930\/0271-9517-31.2.5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Farmer, S. (2017). Considering creative self-efficacy: Its current state and ideas for future inquiry. In The creative self: Effect of beliefs, self-efficacy, mindset, and identity<\/em> (pp. 23\u201347). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-12-809790-8.00002-9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hawkins, R. M. F. (1995). Self-efficacy: A cause of debate. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry<\/em>, 26<\/em>(3), 235\u2013240. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0005-7916(95)00023-S<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Karwowski, M. (2011). It doesn\u2019t hurt to ask\u2026But sometimes it hurts to believe: Polish students\u2019 creative self-efficacy and its predictors. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts<\/em>, 5<\/em>(2), 154\u2013164. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/a0021427<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Liu, C.-C., Lu, K.-H., Wu, L., & Tsai, C.-C. (2016). The Impact of Peer Review on Creative Self-Efficacy and Learning Performance in Web 2.0 Learning Activities<\/em>. 19<\/em>, 286\u2013297.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mathisen, G. E., & Bronnick, K. S. (2009). Creative Self-Efficacy: An Intervention Study. International Journal of Educational Research<\/em>, 48<\/em>(1), 21\u201329. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijer.2009.02.009<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n P. Tierney & S. M. Farmer. (2011). Creative self-efficacy development and creative performance over time. Journal of Applied Psychology<\/em>, 96<\/em>(2), 277\u2013293. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/a0020952<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretz, J., & Nelson, D. (2017). Creativity is influenced by domain, creative self-efficacy, mindset, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. In The creative self: Effect of beliefs, self-efficacy, mindset, and identity<\/em> (pp. 155\u2013170). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-12-809790-8.00009-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Puente-D\u00edaz, R. (2016). Creative Self-Efficacy: An Exploration of Its Antecedents, Consequences, and Applied Implications. The Journal of Psychology<\/em>, 150<\/em>(2), 175\u2013195. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00223980.2015.1051498<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Schunk, D. H. (1990). Goal Setting and Self-Efficacy During Self-Regulated Learning. Educational Psychologist<\/em>, 25<\/em>(1), 71\u201386. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1207\/s15326985ep2501_6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n