The construction and evaluation of a questionnaire measuring self-efficacy for academic self-regulation

Abstract

Research has proven that academic success is strongly influenced by students’ perceived self-efficacy, and has resulted in tremendous contributions to the academic realm amongst others. Almost no research has been conducted on this topic within the South African context. The focal point of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure self-efficacy for academic self-regulation, the belief in one’s current ability to execute the necessary tasks for achieving academic success. Based on a review of the literature and a sound theory of questionnaire construction, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 266 tertiary students at the University of Pretoria. A factor and parallel analysis on 62 initial items yielded four factors, all of which were retained. The reliability analysis produced an overall coefficient of 0.945 and a final retention of 55 items. The implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright 2006, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Gama, SV 2006, The construction and evaluation of a questionnaire measuring self-efficacy for academic self-regulation , MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02132012-103245 / > C12/4/68/gm