Philippine E-Journals

Correlates of Self-Efficacy Beliefs of College Freshmen

Ronald L. Cachero | Shella B. Cacatian | Thelma C. Damaso

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Self-efficacy beliefs are essential mediating constructs of achievement strivings. The study investigated the correlation between the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and their sources of self-efficacy beliefs. Participants were 316 college freshmen of the Cagayan State University at Sanchez Mira in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, selected through stratified random sampling. Data sources were the Personal Data Form and Sources of Self-Efficacy Inventory (SOSI). The SOSI reflected four sources of self-efficacy information such as performance accomplishments, vicarious learnings, social persuasions, and physiological states. The researchers used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software in analyzing the data, with descriptive and correlational statistics as statistical tools in the treatment of data. Results showed that sex and College Freshmen Admission Test (CFAT) score affect the sources of self-efficacy beliefs of the respondents. Males rely on performance accomplishments, vicarious learnings, and physiological states, while females use more vicarious learnings and physiological states as bases of their self-efficacy beliefs. Those with high and average CFAT scores derive their self-efficacy beliefs dominantly from physiological states, while the low CFAT scorers from vicarious learnings. Self-efficacy influences the tasks students choose to learn and the goals they set for themselves.