Sources of Writing Self-Efficacy Beliefs

Pajares, F., Johnson, M. & Usher, E. (2007). Sources of writing self-efficacy beliefs of elementary, middle, and high school students. Research in the Teaching of English, 42(1), 104-120.

Overview of research:

Quantitative study on the influence of Bandura's (1997) 4 hypothesized sources of self-efficacy.

1) mastery experience (one's interpretation of previous experience)

2) vicarious experience (observation of others performing tasks-connects with modeling)

3) social persuasions (verbal judgments others provide)

4) physiological & emotional states ((anxiety, stress, arousal, & mood)

N=1, 256 (elementary, middle, and high school students)

Students self-reported using a 6 point Likert-scale

Utilized multiple regression, commonality analyses, and MANOVA

Findings:

Girls reported more confidence in their writing through middle school. (p. 109)

Girls reported stronger influences from vicarious experiences and social persuasions than boys (p. 108).

"Each of the sources significantly correlated with writing self-efficacy and with each other" (p. 112).

Interventions for young writers should target critical point of raising competence through success and authentic mastery experiences (p. 115)

"Frame writing feedback in terms of gains rather than shortfalls" (p. 116). Type of feedback is connected to apprehension about writing.

Students need to learn to self-evaluate and set goals. (p. 116)

Reflection:

Based on Bandura's sources of self-efficacy, it is important that we scaffold students' success and provide multiple vicarious experiences. In addition, teachers must provide opportunities for students to share their writing and teach peers to provide meaningful feedback. For teacher educators, we must share this when teaching writing course work. Language is important. This reminds me of Peter Johnston's work in the books Choice Words and Opening Minds. I wonder how the high-stakes assessments impact young children's writing self-efficacy, especially when examining the data on physiological and emotional states.