This study examines the accuracy of a context-sensitive (i.e., goal dimensions) measure of personality compared to a traditional measure of personality (NEO-PI-R) and generalized self-efficacy (GSE) to predict variance in task performance. The goal dimensions measure takes a unique perspective in the conceptualization of personality. While traditional measures differentiate within person and collapse across context (e.g., Big Five), the goal dimensions measure employs a hierarchical structure where the item level (i.e., first-order) is based on behaviors in a given context, and at the dimension level (i.e., second-order) each behavior is organized by organizational goals. As such, at the item level, the person is differentiated within context, but at the dimension-level, person is undifferentiated and the situation is differentiated by goals. To develop this measure, the behavior-in-situation items were identified, a goal taxonomy that captures the work context was developed, and the items were linked to the goal dimensions. The predictive accuracy of the goal dimensions measure was compared to that of the NEO-PI-R and GSE for performance on four tasks (creative, mundane, conflict management, and persuasive) and an overall performance composite. The results were modest in that the goal dimensions models did not perform substantially better than the traditional measure of personality. Specifically, the bivariate correlations between the goal dimensions and each criterion ranged from 0.00 to 0.30 and 19 out of 80 correlations (23.75%) were significant; compared to the absolute values of the correlations between the NEO-PI-R facets and each criterion that ranged from 0.00 to 0.24 with 26/240 significant correlations (10.83%). However, the results indicate that the goal dimensions model accounted for significant variance in task performance beyond that accounted for by the best traditional model for one or more of the criteria in the conflict management task and the persuasive task. These results suggest that future research on the goal dimensions measure is warranted. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to explore the causal relationship between purpose of appraisal and leniency in performance ratings. A model in which rater self-efficacy mediated the relationship between appraisal purpose and leniency was tested. In addition, behavioral recognition accuracy was hypothesized to affect rater leniency. In a laboratory setting, 109 undergraduate raters judged the videotaped performance of a graduate teaching assistant. Results of the study showed that (a) leniency was positively related to task-specific self-efficacy, and (b) behavioral recognition accuracy was positively related to general rating self-efficacy. A purpose of appraisal effect was not observed and the proposed mediational model was not supported. These results were discussed in relation to rater affect, accountability in performance ratings, and information processing. / Master of Science

The present studies attempted to clarify the constructs of self-efficacy and outcome expectancies in relation to college student drinking. In study 1, heavy-drinking college students were asked for efficacy judgments for limiting their heavy-drinking for increasing periods of time (e.g. 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.). Students were also asked for efficacy judgments for throwing a basketball into a hoop from increasing distances (e.g. 5 feet, 10 feet, 15 feet). Hypothetical incentives were offered to change efficacy ratings for the first tasks on each hierarchy (limiting drinking and basketball) to which the participant had responded with a negative efficacy judgments. Hypothetical incentives were also offered for the most difficult task on each hierarchy. As predicted, students changed efficacy ratings for limiting drinking much more frequently. Additionally, heavy-drinking college students indicated that money persuaded them to alter their efficacy judgments for limiting drinking, but lack of ability predominated as the reason for not altering basketball task efficacy. In study 2, the relationship between ability judgments, willingness, and outcome expectancies was explored by manipulating the wording of questionnaires presented to heavy-drinking college students. Results indicated that ability judgments were higher than willingness judgments for limiting drinking. Willingness appeared to be related to expected positive and negative effects of consuming alcohol. Principle components analysis indicated that ability and willingness were distinct constructs. Results of both studies are discussed in terms of the ongoing debate between Albert Bandura and Irving Kirsch and the need for a more clarity regarding efficacy and its measurement. / Master of Science

Self-efficacy for avoiding alcohol use predicts alcohol use after treatment. However, self-efficacy predicts outcome differentially depending on whether ratings are made before or after treatment. In order to increase the predictive validity of self-efficacy judgments, the hypothesized sources of self-efficacy were examined in the current study utilizing a college student population. Self-efficacy ratings for avoiding heavy drinking before and after self-monitoring of drinking behavior were examined in order to understand whether careful examination of current behavior would result in more informed self-efficacy judgments. Participants (N = 135) completed questionnaires that assessed self-efficacy, drinking behaviors, alcohol expectancies, and perceived normative alcohol use. Participants were assigned to either the control or self-monitoring condition. Self-monitors recorded drinking behaviors during the four weeks after the baseline assessment. All participants returned for a follow-up assessment four weeks later. Consistent with predictions based on social cognitive theory, heavy drinking, positive alcohol expectancies, and perceived norms of use were inversely related to self-efficacy. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that self-monitoring did not lead to stronger relationships between source variables and self-efficacy. Individuals who appeared to be overconfident in their self-efficacy judgments at baseline did not make more accurate ratings as a result of self-monitoring. Results from this study highlight potential sources of information individuals use in making self-efficacy judgments. / Master of Science

In this dissertation, I investigate how differences in the manner via which individuals pursue goals (judging effort from outcome or outcome from effort) influences expectations (effort vs. outcome). In particular, I focus on the role of self-efficacy, and show that when individuals focus on outcomes, they take self-efficacy into consideration when assessing how much effort is needed. However, when focusing on effort, individuals do not take self-efficacy into consideration when making judgments of outcomes. Thus, I find that irrespective of differences in self-efficacy, individuals expect similar outcomes when effort invested is the same. I report findings from six studies, and discuss theoretical and managerial implications. / Ph. D.

This study was conducted to identify combinations of self-efficacy enhancing strategies and language learning strategies and to align them with Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction (1985). If worked together, these combinations can be used by educators to encourage students studying abroad to acquire second language skills in a shorter amount of time. This design and development study conducted model research through model development and model validation. The considerations were created and supported by current research in the literature and validated by experts from these three areas and revised based on their recommendations. / Doctor of Philosophy / This study was conducted to establish instructional considerations that combine strategies that show, in the literature, to have an effect on second language acquisitions such as self-efficacy enhancing strategies and language learning strategies and apply these strategies in everyday instructions using Gagne's Nine Events (1985). It is hoped that the proposed considerations, after revised by expert reviewers, can be utilized when teaching second language learning skills to international students who seek higher education degrees and have limited time to acquire these skills. The considerations were created and supported by current research in three areas of the literature: self-efficacy enhancing strategies, language learning strategies, and Gagne's Nine Events (1985) and validated by experts from these three areas.

Adult marijuana users seeking treatment (N = 291) were randomly assigned to 3 treatment conditions: 1) a cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention support group (RPSG), 2) individualized assessment and advice group, and 3) delayed treatment control group. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological distress, self-efficacy, and marijuana use. Measures of marijuana use, psychological distress, situational self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, temptation to use, and frequency of encountering situations were used. Only a portion of the hypotheses were supported. Psychologically distressed individuals had lower self-efficacy for psychologically distressing (PD) situations as opposed to non-psychologically distressing (NPD) situations. Participants had lower self-efficacy for NPD situations than PD situations. The RPSG condition did not have the hypothesized effect on self-efficacy for PD situations. / Master of Science

No description available.

Two concerns dominate speculation about the lack of progress in motivational disposition research. First, truly unique dispositional constructs have not been identified since wide acceptance of the approach / avoidance distinction. Second, research has largely neglected to account for context in models of motivated behavior. Effective avoidance has systematically been unassessed in motivation research. Social cognitive theory was used to define an effective avoidance motivational trait, vigilance, as an antecedent to effective regulatory behaviors that are avoidant in nature and/or strategy. Two studies were conducted: First, development and psychometric evaluation of a scale measuring vigilance within the existing motivational trait framework (Heggestad and Kanfer, 2000). Exploratory and confirmatory analyses provided initial validity evidence for the vigilance construct; composed of diligence and error-detection facets. Convergent – discriminant analysis revealed that vigilance is significantly related to approach and avoidance motivational constructs identifying two possible sources of contamination in self-report measures of motivational traits. Measurement items may be contaminated with implied outcomes and measurement items may be contaminated with generalized self-efficacy. In the second study, a within-subjects experiment tested the predictive validity of the vigilance measurement scale for task-specific self-efficacy and performance on a task that rewards avoidance-oriented strategies. Vigilance predicted prevention task-specific self-efficacy ( = .29) in one of two experimental conditions. The validation study also offered construct validity evidence for the vigilance construct. Implications and future directions are discussed. / Ph. D. / Motivation is defined as the force that energizes, directs, and maintains behavior. Researchers in the field of motivation continuously strive to understand individual differences in motivation levels (e.g., personality traits) and how those individual differences are related to task performance. Current consensus is that individuals differ on their levels of approach-oriented motivation (the motive to approach success) and/or avoidance-oriented motivation (the motive to avoid failure). Researchers tend to treat approach-oriented motivation as “good” and avoidanceoriented motivation as “bad”. The current study argues that, in a variety of contexts, avoidanceoriented motivation is actually good and that it leads to enhanced task performance. Thus, effective aspects of avoidance motivation were identified and used to define a new individual difference trait construct termed “vigilance”. Vigilance is defined as a predisposition for maintaining alertness, meticulousness, fastidiousness, and being heedful of overt warnings or obscure warning signs. Highly vigilant individuals are more likely to engage in careful planning, be good at error detection, and engage in safety-related behaviors. Results of this two-part study indicate that vigilance is a unique motivational trait construct and that it may be related to enhanced performance for some tasks. To the extent that vigilance is a valid motivational trait, it can be used to predict individual’s performance in on various tasks and help ensure that people are entered into jobs that they are likely to excel in. However, support for vigilance was mixed in these studies and further research is required.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether overweight college dieters, engaged in self-structured weight loss efforts, experienced physical symptomatology that has previously been associated with severe caloric restriction. The relationships between physical symptomatology, self-efficacy, and future dieting behavior were also investigated. Forty college students (21 female, Mage = 19.58 years, SD= 1.85) self-reported caloric intake and completed self-efficacy measures and physical symptom reports for three weeks. Results indicated that weekly physical symptom reports were not associated with caloric deficit and did not predict future dieting behavior. Physical symptoms were negatively related to self-efficacy for dieting and exercise as predicted, but in several analyses, higher self-efficacy actually predicted less calorie restriction. Physical symptom reports were predicted by trait neuroticism and neuroticism was also significantly and negatively associated with eating and exercise self-efficacy. Results raised issues about the accuracy of caloric restriction reporting and suggested that personality characteristics may have an important impact on an individual's perception of dieting experiences and levels of self-efficacy during dieting. / Master of Science