Sources of Efficacy, Efficacy, Gender and Performance in the Writing Skills of Government and Private School Students: A Comparative Study
Abstract
The study attempted to investigate the correlation among Sources of Efficacy, Efficacy, Gender and Performance in the Writing Skills of Government and Private School Students in Bahir Dar town. During the study, 138 students (47 from Bahir Dar Academy and 91 from Bahir Dar Preparatory School) of grade 11 were studied. Data were gathered through questionnaires and a test. Three statistical techniques (correlation, t-test and regression) were employed to analyze the data. Accordingly, the correlation between writing efficacy and the corresponding performance of students (whole sample) was found to be a significant one. One compared to the other, private school students significantly surpassed government school students in both writing efficacy and writing performance. The results also indicated that females in the government school had debilitated capability beliefs. Their performance in the writing test, however, was not excelled significantly by males in the school. Males and females in the private school had more or less similar levels of writing efficacy and performance. With regard to sources of self efficacy (Mastery Experience, Vicarious Experience, Social Persuasions, and Physiological States), it was found out that these sources collectively predicted the writing efficacy of the whole sample. When others controlled, Vicarious Experience and Social persuasions each had a non-significant positive influence on students‟ writing self efficacy whereas Mastery Experience had a significant positive influence on the writing efficacy of the whole sample. It was seen in the study that private school students were highly dependent on their Mastery Experience for building up their writing efficacy while this variable had a positive, but non-significant, influence on the writing efficacy of government school students. On the other hand, Physiological States had a significant negative impact on the writing efficacy of students in both schools. I, thus, recommend that parents, teachers, schools and other bodies concerned should be in the lead to help students develop their efficacy beliefs as these students‟ progress through school.
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References
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Dornyei, Z. (2001). Motivational Strategies in Language Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Girma Gezahegn (2005). A Study of Secondary School English Language Teachers‟ Implementation of Methodological Innovation: The Teaching of Grammar in Focus. (Unpublished PhD Dissertation) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa. Hampton, N. Z. & Mason, E. (2003). Learning Disabilities, Gender, Sources of Self-efficacy, Self-efficacy Beliefs, and Academic Achievement in High School Students. Journal of School Psychology, 41, 101-112. Harmer, J. (2001). The Practice of English Language Teaching. London: Longman Group UK Limited. Italo Beriso. (1999). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Teacher versus Peer Feedback on Addis Ababa University Students‟ Writing Revisions. (Unpublished PhD Dissertation) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa. McCarthy, P., Meier, S. and Rinderer, R. (1985). Self-Efficacy and Writing: A Different View of Self-Evaluation. College Composition and Communication, 36 (4). Mekonnen Lemma .(1998). An Analysis of Learner Language with Reference to Spoken English. (Unpublished MA Thesis) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa Millis, N., Pajares, F. and Herron, C. (2007). Self-Efficacy of College Intermediate French Students: Relation to Achievement and Motivation. Language Learning, 57 (3).
Millrood, R. (2001). Unsuccessful Learners: in Search of a Neglected Cornerstone. ELT Journal, 55(4).
Mulugeta Teka. (1997). Motivation in Listening Classes. Unpublished Master‟s Thesis, Addis Ababa University, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa. Mustofa Abdela. (2006). Self-Efficacy, Achievement Motivation, Attitudes and Gender Difference on Students‟ Science Performance. (Unpublished MA Thesis) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychology.
Neill, J. (1996). Definitions of Various Self Constructs: Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Self- Confidence & Self-Concept. Retrieved from http://wilderdom.com/self/ on 13 March 2008. Nuru Muhammed-Tahir. (2000). Feedback in the EFL Classroom: An Exploration of Its Role in the Communication of Teacher Expectation. (Unpublished PhD Dissertation) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies. Pajares, F. (1994). Inviting self-efficacy: The Role of Invitations in the Development of Confidence and Competence in Writing. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice, 3, 13-24. Pajares, F. (1996a). Self-Efficacy in Academic Setting. Review of Educational Research, 66(4). Pajares, F. (1996b). Assessing Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Academic Outcomes: The Case for Specificity and Correspondence. A Paper Presented at a Symposium at the Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association, chaired by B.J. Zimmerman, New York.
Pajares, F. (1997). Current Directions in Self-Efficacy Research. In M. Maehr & P. R. Pintrich(Eds.) Advances in Motivation and Achievement, 10, 1-49. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Pajares, F. (2003). Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Motivation, and Achievement in Writing: A Review of the Literature. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 19, 139-158. Pajares, F. (2004). Self-Efficacy. In Human Ecology: An Encyclopedia Of Children, Families, Communities, and Environments. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC- Clio. Pajares, F. (2005). Gender Differences in Mathematics Self-efficacy Beliefs. In A. Gallagher & J. Kaufman (Eds.), Mind Gap: Gender Differences in Mathematics (pp.294-315). Boston: Cambridge University Press. Pajares, F. (2007). Empirical Properties of a Scale to Assess Writing Self-Efficacy in School Contexts. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 39, 239-249. Pajares, F. (2008). Self-Efficacy. In International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd Edition. Pajares, F., Britner, S. L. & Valiante, G. (2000). Relation between Achievement Goals and Self-Beliefs of Middle School Students in Writing and Science. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 406–422. Pajares, F., Hartley, J. & Valiante, G. (2001). Response Format in Writing Self-Efficacy Assessment: Greater Discrimination Increases Prediction. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33, 214-221. Pajares, F. & Johnson, M. J. (1994). Confidence and Competence in Writing: The Role of Writing Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancy, and Apprehension. Research in the Teaching of English, 28, 313–331.
Pajares, F., Johnson M. J. & Usher (2007). Sources of Writing Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Elementary, Middle, and High School Students. Research in the Teaching of English, 42 (1). Pajares, F. & Schunk, D.H. (2001). Self-Beliefs and School Success: Self-Efficacy, Self- Concept, and School Achievement. In R. Riding & S. Rayner (Eds.) Perception, London: Ablex Publishing. Pajares, F. & Valiante, G. (2006). Self-efficacy Beliefs and Motivation in Writing Development. In C. A., Macarthur, S. Graham, & J. Fitzgerald (Eds.), Handbook of Writing Research (pp. 158-170). New York: Guilford Press. Raimes, A. (1983). Techniques in Teaching Writing. New York: Oxford University Press. Schunk, D.H. (2003). Self-Efficacy for Reading and Writing: Influence of Modeling, Goal Setting, and Self-Evaluation. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 19, 159-172. Schunk, D.H. & Pajares, F. (2007). In A. Wigfield & J. Eccles (Eds.), Development of Achievement Motivation. San Diego: Academic Press. Schunk, D.H. & Pajares, F. (2009). Self-Efficacy Theory. In K.R, Wentzel and A. Wigfield (Eds.), Handbook of Motivation at School. New York: Erlbaum. Shell, D.F., Murphy, C.C. & Bruning, R.H. (1989). Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy Mechanisms in Reading and Writing Achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81 (1).
Tilaye, Kassahun (1997). Gender Specific Investigation into the Problem of High School Dropouts in Amhara Region. (Unpublished MA Thesis) Addis Ababa University; School of Graduate Studies, Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2008). Sources of Self-Efficacy in School: Critical Review of the Literature and Future Directions. Review of Educational Research, 78 (4). Veit, R., Gould, C. & Clifford, J. (1990).Writing, Reading and Research. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. Wiersma, (1995). Research Methods in Education: An Introduction. Boston: Alyns and Bacons Inc. Williams, M. and Burden, R. (1997). Psychology for Language Teachers: A Social Constructivist Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Yalew Endaweke (1997). Self-Efficacy, Perceived Importance, Attitudes, and Achievement in Physics among Tana Haik Comprehensive Secondary School Male and Female Students: A Path Analysis. The Ethiopian Journal of Education, 17(1). Yonas Adaye (1996). Teaching Writing as a Process at First year level at Addis Ababa University. Unpublished Master‟s Thesis, Addis Ababa University, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa. Zimmerman, B.J. & Bandura, A. (1994). Impact of Self-Regulatory Influences on Writing Course Attainment. American Educational Research Journal, 31 (4). Zimmernan, B.J. & Martinez-Pons, M. (2004). Pursuing Academic Self-Regulation: A 20 Year Methodological Quest. In E. Jessie, A. Chang & O. Tan (Eds), Thinking about Thinking: What Educators Need to Know, Singapore: McGraw Hill.
Published
2011-06-01
Section
Articles