Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
10:26
Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Elementary student self efficacy scale development and validation focused on student learning, peer relations, and
Carl I Fertman1, Brian A Primack
1School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. carl@pitt.edu
Journal of Drug Education
|November 5, 2009
Summary
This study validated a 20-item self-efficacy scale for elementary students, measuring confidence in learning, peer interactions, and resisting drug pressure. The scale is reliable and valid, supporting its use in drug prevention programs.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Child Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes self-efficacy in behavior change.
- Effective drug prevention programs require reliable measurement tools for children's self-efficacy.
- Existing scales may not adequately capture self-efficacy across learning, social, and risk-related domains in elementary students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychometric properties of a child self-efficacy scale.
- To assess scale validity and reliability for measuring self-efficacy in learning, peer interactions, and resisting drug pressure.
- To evaluate the scale's utility within elementary school drug prevention education programs.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 392 4th and 5th grade students participated.
- Participants completed a 20-item self-efficacy scale.
- Social support and social skills instruments were also administered to assess construct validity.
Main Results:
- The 20-item scale demonstrated evidence of being a valid and reliable 3-factor measure.
- Subscale internal consistency reliability was good to excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.75, 0.83, 0.91).
- Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with social skills, social support, and demographic data.
Conclusions:
- The developed self-efficacy scale is a psychometrically sound tool for elementary students.
- The scale can effectively measure children's confidence in learning, peer interactions, and resisting peer pressure to use drugs.
- This validated scale can inform and enhance the design of school-based drug prevention programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capacity to organize and execute actions necessary to manage prospective situations. This belief significantly influences how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges across different domains of life.Psychological and Educational ImpactsIndividuals with strong self-efficacy are more resilient in the face of difficulties. They are more likely to adopt effective problem-solving strategies, persist through obstacles, and regulate emotions such as...
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem: self-efficacy,...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
01:28Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...
01:30Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation
Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often blend...