This paper takes a ethnomethodological look at a typical Experiential Self-Empowerment Approach (ESA)-using speech class to see how the ESA uses 12 assumptions as background expectancies (Heritage, 1984) to accomplish personal growth in college public speaking classes. The following assumptions are addressed: (1) students deserve "something…

This paper reports the results of a longitudinal study into the personal and science teaching efficacy of a group of preservice elementary teachers. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in the study. Using a pretest and a post-test one group research design, quantitative data were obtained from the administration of a…

This study investigated the impact of performance assessment on the self-efficacy of undergraduate education majors. The students enrolled in an undergraduate educational psychology course were assessed using two different methods: traditional objective exams and performance assessment through microteaching episodes. Data were collected to examine…

In the context of a move toward physician participation in counseling patients to reduce risk factors and promote healthy lifestyles, a study was done of whether medical students perceive themselves to be self-efficacious in educating patients for health promotion and of how various educational experiences help to develop self-efficacy. The study…

Two studies of influences on self-regulated performance were conducted. The purpose of the first was to determine if the level of performance of college students would be higher if the allowable length of the assignment was greater or smaller. Subjects were 126 education majors at a large state university participating in an extra-credit program…

Using a critical-career events framework to describe the socialization process in academe, a model was developed which relates how the experiencing of critical-career events affects individuals' judgments of their research self-efficacy which, in turn, affects their scholarly productivity. A sample of 206 full-time associate professors from 7…

Two approaches to the measurement of teacher efficacy were investigated to determine whether teachers' sense of self-efficacy is a self-referenced or norm-referenced construct. Two forms of an instrument consisting of 25 teaching problem situations were developed: one required self-referenced responses, while the other required norm-referenced…

Studied the relation of self-efficacy and assertiveness to women's willingness to engage in traditional or nontraditional career activities. Strong self-efficacy expectations and assertiveness were related to willingness to engage in career-related activities of nontraditional but not traditional occupations where, regardless of self-efficacy and…

Belief in the ability to teach or to teach a particular subject can help fuel success in the first stages of a teaching career. The need for a reliable instrument with which to probe preservice elementary teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in the teaching of science led to the development of two versions of a teacher efficacy scale that were tested…

This study assessed the effectiveness of a site-based teacher education program for undergraduate seniors at the University of Houston. The program's final field-based year is divided into a professional development semester and student teaching. During the professional development semester, students are placed in Professional Development Sites…

This study investigated the contributions of entering characteristics and college experiences on student satisfaction and degree completion using the input-environment-outcome assessment model developed by A. W. Astin (1995). A total of 594 college students who had started college about 5 years previously completed a survey about their college…

A study at the State University of New York's College at Cortland compared outcomes of an introductory college sociology course for students taught traditionally and those taught with a service-learning component. Students in the service-learning course showed greater improvements in social responsibility and personal efficacy and greater ability…

Six personality measures, measures of stress, self-reported health status and coping, and a measure of social desirability were administered to samples of college students and adults (n=589) in a series of four studies. Correlations among these measures and evidence for a higher order factor called Health Proneness factor are discussed. (SLD)

Surveyed beginning teachers regarding their views on their preparation for teaching, beliefs and practice, and plans to remain in teaching. Teachers prepared in teacher education programs felt significantly better prepared than those prepared through alternative programs or without preparation. Teachers' views of their preparation varied. The…

Presents the findings of a study that examined the personal characteristics contributing to the postsecondary academic success of students with learning disabilities. Results, based on interviews of directors of learning disability support services, reveal that successful students are motivated toward realistic goals, are academically prepared,…