Self-Efficacy and Academic Success

Abstract

This study was aimed at obtaining information on whether there is a difference between self-efficacy and academic success. Individuals involved were university students and the study explored differences in gender based on their performances in school. Filling out questionnaires and writing self-reports were the main methodologies used to gather information. The students involved were of different age as well as of both male and female genders. The results showed that there was a difference in self-efficacy and a slight difference in academic performance.

Self-Efficacy and Academic Success

Self-efficacy refers to the measure of the belief that individuals hold towards their own ability to complete tasks effectively and reach their goals. Academic success is seen in terms of the grades posted by students in their respective subject categories, which is reflected in their GPA. The general research question is whether there is a relationship between self-efficacy and academic success. The two variables are to be researched for the sake of finding any difference between them. This research paper, therefore, is meant to provide clarity on an issue, which may create confusion among many individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to study the difference between self-efficacy and academic success among university students. This is because students in educational institutions are mostly related to this issue meaning they are the best examples to use for comparison.

Methods

Participants

This study reached out to 558 students, but those who took part in the undertaking were 275. Not every student turned up for helping out in the study. Those who turned up were the students, whose major is in the field of psychology, they came out, participated, and helped in carrying out the research. The students gathered issues with questionnaires so that they could use them for providing information and making it easier for the researchers to gather the needed information. These students were expected to take part and fill out the questionnaires for achieving the best results. They were from one university and majorly Asian and Whites. The students involved comprised both male and female genders. This was done with the aim to achieve the goal of finding the difference between self-efficacy and academic success. The students involved were also of different age for assurance and in order to obtain effective results.

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Several studies have filed that female students usually have lower self-efficacy in some subjects compared to the male gender. In this case, the female gender capability is undermined by role of sex. There are stereotypes in various cultures that view males as more able group than the female gender. The other aspect, which makes most individuals consider the female gender as weak, is the low level of expectation that teachers and parents hold for them. This is the main reason as to why the study had to include both the male and female gender. There was the need to know whether this difference actually exists and how it affects the individuals involved.

Materials

The dealings used in the study were SelfEfficacy calculated by the short form of the General Self-Efficacy Scale GSE-6 (Romppel et al., 2013). This is a measure of self-report, which calculates individuals expectation that they are in a position to perform proficiently across a wide range of circumstances, which are challenging and need perseverance and effort. This is the main methodology, which was used for effective results of the study.

Procedure

The data collected was analyzed by the use of questionnaires and self-reports. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of gender on self-efficacy among the university students. To achieve this, the students were issued with self-efficacy questionnaires. The final samples were compared and the results gave a clear impression that there is a difference in self-efficacy among the students in relation to gender. The males and the females filled out the questionnaires in different ways in which the results showed that self-efficacy among them are not similar. It was concluded that females and males in the university differ in self-efficacy.

The other aim for this study was to find out what the effect gender has on academic success among the university students. To manage this, the reports of academic success were obtained through self-reports. It meant that the students involved were provided their academic reports according to how they had performed in their previous examinations. The results showed that there was a slight difference in the performance of males and females. In this case, it was concluded that there is truly a difference between self-efficacy and academic success. The correlation therefore, is said to be solid.

Results

From the findings, it became clear that males and females are different when it comes to self-efficacy. . Self-efficacy depends on an individual and the trust, which individuals have for themselves. There are those who believe they have the ability to make it and there are those who believe things are difficult and decide to take chances. This is what brings about the difference in self-efficacy levels. Individuals vary from each other mainly because of the self-esteem (Olsson, 2008). On the other hand, looking at the academic performance there was a slight difference, which meant that performance between the males and the females had not much difference. The academic performance in this case was defined by hard work. Every individual in an educational institution wants to have good results in school. This is the reason why everybody ends up working hard. Hard work is the purpose of achieving the best and coming top in class or having good results. This is not similar to self-efficacy because it is an obligation to work hard in order to achieve the best results in class. The study has shown that there is a difference in self-efficacy and academic success, which is mainly based on individuals behavior.

Discussion

Self-efficacy forecasts logical performance better than expertise alone, and influences the academic performance directly through cognition. Self-efficacy also affects perseverance indirectly. Although past academic success increases self-efficacy, it is learner analysis of past failures and successes that may be accountable for success. Apparent self-efficacy foretells future success better than precedent performance. Beliefs that an individual has enough self-efficacy also contribute to performance as they have control on thought processes, enthusiasm, and code of conduct.

Fluctuation in self-efficacy can be another explanation for academic performance. An example of this is where two individuals are involved. These individuals may be in the same situation or in different situations. What matters in this case are the different beliefs in self-efficacy. Individuals who are high in self-efficacy are known to challenge duties more often, keep on longer at them, and make use of more effort. If there are breakdowns, highly effective people characterize it to an adverse environment or lack of attempt. When they become successful, they credit their attainment to their capabilities.

The discernment that their capabilities turned into accomplishment, affects the result rather than their real capabilities. Those who consider themselves as inefficacious usually shy away from tasks that are difficult, slacken their hard work and give up in the face of complexity, dwell on their individual deficits, lower their ambitions and suffer a lot from stress and anxiety. Such self-misgivings demoralize performance. Conversely, persons with high self-efficacy commonly carry on despite hard tasks and often do well because determination usually results in success. Many studies link self-efficacy to educational achievement. There is a difference in both of them, but in some way, they have a connection because they are related to each other; self-efficacy determines how an individual will perform.

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