Validating constructs of learners’ academic self-efficacy for measuring learning gain

ABSTRACT

Following previous research which showed the significance of learners’ self-efficacy and dispositions towards progression in school and university transition, we developed and validated similar measures for use in modelling undergraduate students’ Learning Gain (LG). We validated three dimensions of confidence using data from a sample of (mainly first year) undergraduate students in various departments of one major UK University which we call: ‘confidence in learning through…’ a) ‘traditional university transmission pedagogy’ (e.g. in lectures), b) ‘social means’ (e.g. working in teams), and c) ‘problem solving, reflection and critical thinking’. We explored psychometric properties of these measures and then focus on their association with other perceptions of students’ experience in HE and other measures of attainment. We then used these academic self-efficacy variables to inform (regression) models of LG. Finally, we discuss the prospects for measurements and modelling of LG involving dispositions and affect as well as attainment.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-efficacy
• dispositions
• confidence
• learning gain
• Rasch modelling
• regression

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge HEFCE for awarding funding for this pilot (CL.04/2015, project ref: G0177/IMAN03/LG1516), and the support of ESRC projects (grant numbers RES-061-025-0538 and RES-062-23-1213), the outcomes of which provided the basis for this work. We would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers and editor for their valuable suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. This work refers to a series of ESRC mainly funded projects, see www.transmaths.org, www.teleprism.com.

2. See also: www.winsteps.com/winnman/table_23_0.htm.

3. See www.transmaths.org.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (CL.04/2015, project ref: G0177/IMAN03/LG1516).