Self-efficacy

The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of self-efficacy, its major sources and outcomes, and ways to design effective interventions for enhancing self-efficacy. We discuss how self-efficacy is different from other similar concepts such as outcome expectancy, perceived control, self-esteem, and self-concept. We then delineate the four major sources of self-efficacy information including mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and physiological and affective states. Potential differences in self-efficacy due to age, gender, and culture are discussed and diverse motivational and behavioral consequences of self-efficacy beliefs are introduced. The article concludes with effective ways to measure self-efficacy and strategies to promote learners' academic self-efficacy beliefs.