Influence of Self-Efficacy on Performance in a Cognitive Task

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of self-efficacy judgments on cognitive performance when subjects had equivalent knowledge and experience in the performance domain. High or low self-efficacy perceptions were experimentally induced in a sample of 64 Canadian college students. Results showed that differences in perceptions were related to measures of the number of problems completed, the efficiency of problem-solving strategies, and the accuracy of self-evaluation of responses. These results suggest that the perception of self-efficacy is a viable construct for comprehending performance, particularly on academic tasks requiring sustained self-monitoring.