The purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of self-efficacy in music performance. I sought to (a) contribute to fundamental knowledge of self-efficacy in music performance, (b) determine whether scores from the Music Performance Self-Efficacy Scale (MPSES) were valid and reliable, and (c) provide insights for developing self-efficacy among secondary school music students. Participants (N = 290) were middle and high school students in band, chorus, and string orchestra ensembles from 10 schools in the southeast and western regions of the United States. Participants completed four online questionnaires: (a) Music Performance Self-Efficacy Scale, (b) Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale, (c) Self-Esteem of Musical Ability, and (d) Advanced Measures of Music Audiation. Teachers provided 5-point Likert-type ratings of their student's music self-efficacy. Data from the MPSES demonstrated good fit with Bandura's proposed self-efficacy model (SRMR = .06, RMSEA = .06). The strength of the relationships between the sources and composite construct were consistent with theory and findings from other studies. Mastery experience was strongest, followed by verbal/social persuasion, physiological state, and vicarious experience. No differences in responses were found between middle and high school students, or among band, chorus, and string orchestra students. Items on the MPSES were also found to assess participants equally across grade levels. Music aptitude was found to predict self-efficacy in music performance (â = .16) and accounted for 3% of the variance in self-efficacy. This finding raises questions about the role of self-efficacy in mediating the relationship between music aptitude and music achievement. The Music Performance Self-Efficacy Scale was found to be a valid and reliable measure of self-efficacy in music performance. Evidence of validity was based on test content, response process, and internal structure, along with convergent, discriminant, and multi-method relationships. Evidence of reliability was based on test-retest correlation (r = .87) and internal consistency (á = .88). Recommendations for researchers were to link the sources of self-efficacy to performance achievement; explore self-efficacy's relationship with aptitude and achievement; and expand the investigation to other populations. Recommendations for educators focused on improving understanding of self-efficacy and interpreting MPSES results.

Background. The study was prompted by observation that failure to obtain a positive postsecondary destination is significantly more prevalent in young people living in areas of greater social deprivation, and in males rather than females. Previous studies have shown that this could be linked to differences in social cognitive factors. However, these studies have been mainly correlational and no comprehensive assessment instrument was found to assess preparedness for the postsecondary transition. Aims. The present study examines senior high school student’s perceptions of the personal, behavioural and environmental factors that affect them as they prepare to leave school. It reveals the structure of these factors and how they vary with regard to social deprivation and gender. Sample. The participants were 1044 senior high school students (573 males and 471 females) who attended six urban high schools. Method. A pre-empirical, 50-item assessment instrument was constructed based on the literature review to identify the wide range of factors previously shown to be relevant to achievement of a positive postsecondary destination. This was then administered to participants. Results. Factor analysis indicated that young people’s perceptions about leaving school were best represented by thirteen factors. An ANOVA model indicated that young people living in areas of higher deprivation reported significantly lower levels of positive postsecondary destination self-efficacy belief, less experience of vicarious career success, less performance of career development tasks, greater perception of career barriers, greater endorsement of a fixed career mindset, and fewer career scaffolding attachments. Males, compared to females, reported less experience of past career success, and fewer career scaffolding attachments. However, despite being at greater risk of a negative postsecondary destination, males reported higher levels of positive postsecondary destination self-efficacy belief, greater experience of positive career-related emotional arousal, greater ability to set career goals, and greater levels of career optimism. Conclusion. Twelve significant main effects on the measured social cognitive factors have the potential to contribute to an explanation of why failure to obtain a positive postsecondary destination is more prevalent in young people living in areas of greater social deprivation, and in males rather than females. A new assessment instrument has been produced to inform an ongoing exploratory process to design, target and evaluate educational interventions to improve postsecondary destinations for all. Increasing internal consistency, external validity and generalisability of findings are all desirable. Some future interventions are proposed on the basis of the results, including greater use of positive career role models in career development programmes, career mindset retraining for high school students, and psycho-education on attachment-fostering behaviours for parents and professionals.