Question 1

Only one of the following definitely illustrates high self-efficacy. Which one?
A) Amy knows she is a good singer.
B) Berta swims the fastest butterfly stroke on the swim team.
C) Carmen enjoys being with her friends.
D) Darlene recently got a score of 120 on an intelligence test.

Accepted Answer

High self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Amy's confidence in her singing ability directly reflects her belief in her capability to perform well in that area, illustrating high self-efficacy.

Question 2

Imagine that you are a teacher at a junior high school. Below are four behaviors you might exhibit in your classroom. Considering the textbook's discussion of modeling, choose the behavior your students are least likely to imitate.
A) You show them how to estimate the price of an outfit they might want to buy.
B) You show them how to fill out their class schedule form for next year.
C) You show them how much you enjoy reading professional education journals.
D) You show them how to make a tasty fruit drink for a hot day.

Accepted Answer

Modeling is most effective when the behavior being modeled is observable and relevant to the learner. While reading professional education journals may be important for a teacher's professional development, it may not be seen as relevant or observable by the students, making it less likely that they will imitate this behavior. The other behaviors listed are more concrete and observable, making them more likely to be imitated by students.

Question 3

Listed below are four reasons why students might not want to take their schoolwork seriously or to try very hard to succeed at classroom tasks. Which one of these reasons is most clearly consistent with the concept of self-efficacy?
A) Anthony is more interested in goofing around with his friends.
B) Bernice gets so nervous in the classroom that she "can't think straight."
C) Carol doesn't believe she has the ability to do the work successfully.
D) Danny thinks his teacher doesn't like him.

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to one's belief in their own ability to succeed or perform a task successfully. Carol's lack of belief in her own ability to do the work successfully is consistent with low self-efficacy. The other options are related to external factors that do not necessarily reflect self-efficacy, such as social interests (A), anxiety (B), and perceptions of interpersonal relationships (D).

Question 4

Tammy has trouble getting dates, so she begins to observe how other students attract boys. The four girls below have all had a date within the last week. Without knowing anything about Tammy, but using criteria proposed by social cognitive theorists, choose the girl whom Tammy is most likely to model.
A) Amanda has a steady boyfriend, but most of her classmates don't like her.
B) Belinda has never had a date.
C) Clara enjoys playing traditionally "masculine" sports such as football and ice hockey with the boys.
D) Dorinda is popular and feminine.

Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theory, individuals are more likely to model the behavior of people who are seen as competent, powerful, popular, and/or similar to themselves. Dorinda, who is popular and feminine, fits these criteria and is therefore the most likely choice for Tammy to model. Amanda may have a steady boyfriend but if most of her classmates don't like her, she may not be seen as competent or powerful. Belinda has never had a date, so she may not be seen as a good role model for dating behavior. Clara plays traditionally "masculine" sports which may not be similar to Tammy's interests, making her a less likely model.

Question 5

Bandura proposes that three of the following conditions are necessary for modeling to occur. Which one is not necessary?
A) Motivation to perform the behavior
B) Memory of the observed behavior
C) A relatively stress-free environment
D) Attention to the model

Accepted Answer

According to Bandura, motivation, memory, and attention are all necessary conditions for modeling to occur. However, a stress-free environment is not considered necessary, although it can facilitate the modeling process.

Question 6

Which one of the following teaching strategies is most likely to promote resilient self-efficacy?
A) Ms. Angelotti has her students pronounce Comment allez vous? over and over until they can do so correctly.
B) Mr. Benavidez makes sure that failure never occurs in his classroom; he limits his students' assignments to tasks he knows they can do easily and effortlessly.
C) Mr. Coffin has students in a woodworking class use only hand tools while building a bookshelf.
D) Ms. Davis assigns a variety of challenging math problems, knowing that her students will successfully solve most, but probably not all, of them.

Accepted Answer

Assigning challenging tasks that stretch the student's abilities is likely to promote resilient self-efficacy. By providing opportunities for success but also recognizing that not all tasks may be completed successfully, students will develop confidence in their ability to overcome setbacks and persist in the face of challenges.

Question 7

Trudy makes an obscene gesture in class, and the teacher punishes her severely. Other students in class observe both the gesture and the punishment. Based on social cognitive theory, what can we guess about what those other students have learned and how they are likely to behave in the future?
A) They don't know how to make the gesture, but they know that the teacher will punish them severely for inappropriate behavior.
B) They know how to make the gesture, but they are likely to forget it within a few days.
C) They know how to make the gesture and are likely to make it in class in the future.
D) They know how to make the gesture, but they are unlikely to make it in class.

Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theory, individuals learn through observation and imitation of others. In this scenario, the other students observed Trudy making an obscene gesture, which may have increased their knowledge of how to make the gesture. However, they also observed the severe punishment that Trudy received from the teacher, which may have served as a deterrent for them to make the same gesture in the future. Therefore, choice D is the best answer, as the other students are likely to know how to make the gesture but are unlikely to make it in class in the future because of the punishment they saw Trudy receive.

Question 8

Jim has a high sense of self-efficacy regarding his ability to work with his hands. Based on this information, we would predict three of the following from social cognitive theory. Which one would we not necessarily predict?
A) Jim will frequently choose activities that involve working with his hands.
B) Jim will be a bit careless when he works with his hands, so he will frequently make silly little mistakes.
C) Compared to Joe, who has low self-efficacy, Jim will do a better job at such hands-on tasks.
D) If Jim has difficulty at a task requiring his handiwork, he will tend to "try, try again" until he gets it right.

Accepted Answer

Social cognitive theory does not predict that Jim will be careless when working with his hands just because he has a high sense of self-efficacy. In fact, high self-efficacy is usually linked to increased confidence and attention to detail in a given task.

Question 9

Which one of the following alternatives best describes the disinhibition effect that social cognitive theorists describe?
A) People may engage in a previously prohibited behavior if they see someone else being reinforced for that behavior.
B) People are less likely to engage in behaviors they have seen other people punished for.
C) People are less likely to engage in behaviors they have previously been punished for.
D) When people are punished for one behavior, they will tend to refrain from exhibiting that behavior; however, they will be more likely to engage in similar behaviors that are not punished.

Accepted Answer

The disinhibition effect refers to the phenomenon where observing someone else being rewarded for a certain behavior makes it more likely that someone will engage in that behavior themselves, even if that behavior was previously inhibited or prohibited. Choice B describes the opposite effect, and choices C and D describe different phenomena altogether.

Question 10

When George attends the first day of an Advanced Placement class in biology, he thinks to himself, "This is going to be a really hard class. I don't know if I have what it takes to understand and remember all this stuff." Which one of the following concepts from social cognitive theory do George's misgivings best exemplify?
A) self-reaction
B) self-observation
C) self-efficacy for learning
D) self-efficacy for performance

Accepted Answer

George's misgivings reflect his low perceived self-efficacy for learning the subject matter in the class. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific task, and in this case, George doubts his ability to learn the material. Self-reaction refers to an individual's emotional and self-evaluative responses to their own behaviors, self-observation refers to an individual's ability to observe and learn from their own behavior, and self-efficacy for performance refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully execute a specific behavior or action. None of these concepts are directly related to George's doubts about his ability to learn the material.

Question 11

Should students ever be allowed to fail at classroom tasks? According to social cognitive theorists, the answer is:
A) Yes. Self-efficacy is highest when students fail at a task several times in a row before accomplishing it successfully.
B) Yes. Occasional failures interspersed among frequent successes teach students that perseverance pays off.
C) No. Failure gives students the message that school is not an enjoyable place to be.
D) No. Even a single failure can significantly deflate students' self-efficacy.

Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theorists, occasional failures interspersed among frequent successes teach students that perseverance pays off. This helps to build their self-efficacy and resilience towards learning, which will ultimately make them stronger learners.

Question 12

Modeling is often facilitated by memory codes. Three of the following are examples of such codes. Which one does not specifically illustrate a memory code?
A) While trying to remember how to do a front walk-over, Andrew visualizes how he saw his gymnastics coach do it a few minutes ago.
B) Beatrice successfully recalls how to make crepe batter simply by thinking, "eggs, milk, flour, oil."
C) Charlene's father shows her how to use a radial arm saw. Charlene listens closely in order to remember his verbal description of what he is doing.
D) David wears the same style of clothing his friends wear, even though he's never been reinforced for doing so.

Accepted Answer

Choice D does not specifically illustrate a memory code as it is a behavior that is not necessarily related to memory or recalling information. The other choices all involve specific strategies for encoding information into memory, such as visualizing or using verbal cues.

Question 13

Social cognitive theorists have studied the role of modeling on aggressive behavior. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?
A) Children model aggression only when the model is the same sex as themselves.
B) Children can learn aggressive behavior by watching adult models as well as children.
C) Children who observe aggression in films and video games are more likely to be aggressive.
D) Children are less aggressive when they observe a nonaggressive model than when they observe no model at all.

Accepted Answer

While social cognitive theorists have studied the role of modeling on aggressive behavior, they have not found that children model aggression only when the model is the same sex as themselves. In fact, research has shown that children can model behavior regardless of the model's gender.

Question 14

Models can influence an observer's behavior in a number of ways. Which one of the following behaviors is least likely to be the result of modeling?
A) Kevin is punished for hitting his brother, but several weeks later, after seeing a child on television hit a friend, he hits his brother again.
B) Luke scratches his mosquito bites, even though his mother continually asks him not to, because it makes them feel better.
C) Melvin is studying to be a dentist. His older brother is a dentist.
D) When Nathan sees how much pleasure his best friend gets by being in the school chess club, he joins a similar group: the school math club.

Accepted Answer

Modeling involves observing and imitating the behavior of others. In option B, Luke's behavior of scratching his mosquito bites is not necessarily the result of observing and imitating someone else's behavior. It may be a natural response to the discomfort caused by mosquito bites. The other options involve behaviors that are more likely to be influenced by modeling.

Question 15

Three of the following alternatives depict situations in which a teacher is facilitating the retention component of modeling. Which one does not depict such a situation?
A) As he writes a capital J on the board, Mr. Anson tells his kindergartners, "To write a capital J, you make a fishhook with a line across the top."
B) Mr. Byers suggests, "Let's play some background music while I show you how to use the dipstick to measure your oil level."
C) Mr. Caruso says, "There are several critical steps involved in throwing a pot on the potter's wheel. Repeat these steps to yourself as you work so that you don't forget them."
D) As he demonstrates how to throw a baseball correctly, Mr. Duffy says, "Now repeat these words as you throw the ball: back, up, thrust, release."

Accepted Answer

Playing background music while showing how to use a dipstick does not necessarily facilitate the retention component of modeling, which involves repeating or rehearsing the steps or information being demonstrated to aid in memory retention. The other options provide specific instructions for retaining the demonstrated information.

Question 16

Jenny hears her second grade teacher often tell the class that soda is bad for your health and that everyone should drink water. However, every afternoon Jenny sees her teacher drink a soda. Based information regarding behaviors that are learned through modeling, which beverage is Jenny most likely to drink:
A) Water, an authority figure's words are more influential than their actions.
B) Neither, children only imitate other children.
C) Soda, people imitate other people's actions more than their words.
D) Water, second graders always imitate to their teachers.

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided about modeling behavior, people are more likely to imitate the actions of others rather than their words. Jenny's teacher tells the class to drink water, but drinks soda herself, which could lead Jenny to imitate the teacher's soda-drinking behavior. Therefore, the most likely beverage Jenny would choose is soda.

Question 17

Which one of the following best illustrates cognitive modeling?
A) A science teacher thinks aloud, "How can I determine what makes this pendulum swing fast or slowly? Hmm, I'll change the amount of weight on the bottom, but I need to keep the length the same so I'll know that any change in speed isn't due to length."
B) A dance teacher carefully describes every movement that students should make when doing a country line dance to the "Boot Scootin' Boogie."
C) A Spanish teacher has students practice rolling their Rs by asking them to repeat this tongue twister over and over: "Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril. Rápido corren los carros del ferrocarril."
D) After showing his students how to use a jigsaw correctly and safely, an industrial arts teacher has them practice using the saw by constructing pig-shaped cutting boards they can bring home as gifts for Mother's Day.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive modeling involves demonstrating or describing thought processes and decision-making strategies. In this example, the science teacher is thinking aloud and explaining the process of determining what factors affect the speed of a pendulum. This illustrates a cognitive model for problem solving.

Question 18

In what way does the concept self-efficacy differ from such terms as self-concept and self-esteem?
A) Self-efficacy refers only to those behaviors we learn through modeling.
B) Self-efficacy results primarily from vicarious reinforcement and punishment.
C) Self-efficacy varies depending on the specific task to be performed.
D) Self-efficacy appears only after we begin to regulate our own behavior.

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers specifically to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed or perform well in a particular task or situation. In contrast, self-concept is a broader term that refers to an individual's overall understanding and perception of themselves, including their strengths, weaknesses, and general identity. Self-esteem is a related term that refers to an individual's overall evaluation of their worth and value as a person. While these concepts are related, they differ in their focus and scope, with self-efficacy specifically addressing an individual's confidence in their ability to perform a specific task.

Question 19

Some researchers have studied the effects of modeling on children's interpersonal behaviors. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?
A) Children who watch generous models are more likely to be generous themselves.
B) Children learn effective interpersonal skills only from watching adults; what they see other children do has little or no effect on their own behavior.
C) Children with mild or moderate disabilities can benefit from watching other people behave appropriately.
D) Children can learn morally appropriate behaviors by watching television shows that demonstrate those behaviors.

Accepted Answer

This conclusion cannot be drawn from the research as there is evidence to suggest that children can learn effective interpersonal skills from watching other children as well as adults.

Question 20

Which one of the following is the best example of a symbolic model?
A) An older brother or sister
B) The school principal
C) A detective on a television show
D) The police officer who lives next door

Accepted Answer

A symbolic model is one that is represented through media or fictional characters. In this scenario, the detective on a television show represents a symbolic model because they are not a real person, but rather a character portrayed through media. The other options are all real people and do not fit the definition of a symbolic model.

Quiz 5: Social Cognitive Theory

Only one of the following definitely illustrates high self-efficacy. Which one?

Imagine that you are a teacher at a junior high school. Below are four behaviors you might exhibit in your classroom. Considering the textbook's discussion of modeling, choose the behavior your students are least likely to imitate.

Listed below are four reasons why students might not want to take their schoolwork seriously or to try very hard to succeed at classroom tasks. Which one of these reasons is most clearly consistent with the concept of self-efficacy?

Bandura proposes that three of the following conditions are necessary for modeling to occur. Which one is not necessary?

Which one of the following teaching strategies is most likely to promote resilient self-efficacy?

Trudy makes an obscene gesture in class, and the teacher punishes her severely. Other students in class observe both the gesture and the punishment. Based on social cognitive theory, what can we guess about what those other students have learned and how they are likely to behave in the future?

Jim has a high sense of self-efficacy regarding his ability to work with his hands. Based on this information, we would predict three of the following from social cognitive theory. Which one would we not necessarily predict?

Which one of the following alternatives best describes the disinhibition effect that social cognitive theorists describe?

Should students ever be allowed to fail at classroom tasks? According to social cognitive theorists, the answer is:

Modeling is often facilitated by memory codes. Three of the following are examples of such codes. Which one does not specifically illustrate a memory code?

Social cognitive theorists have studied the role of modeling on aggressive behavior. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?

Models can influence an observer's behavior in a number of ways. Which one of the following behaviors is least likely to be the result of modeling?

Three of the following alternatives depict situations in which a teacher is facilitating the retention component of modeling. Which one does not depict such a situation?

Which one of the following best illustrates cognitive modeling?

In what way does the concept self-efficacy differ from such terms as self-concept and self-esteem?

Some researchers have studied the effects of modeling on children's interpersonal behaviors. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?

Which one of the following is the best example of a symbolic model?