Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Social cognitive theory would not necessarily predict that Jim will be careless when working with wood. Self-efficacy beliefs relate to confidence in one's ability to perform a task, but do not necessarily relate to one's attention to detail or care in execution.

Question 2

Three of the following statements are true with regard to students' self-efficacy.Which statement is false?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Students with low self-efficacy usually try harder at a task" is false. Students with low self-efficacy are more likely to give up quickly and have lower motivation to persevere through difficult tasks.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Danielle knowing she is a good singer demonstrates high self-efficacy because she believes in her ability to sing well. The other options do not necessarily demonstrate self-efficacy, as Amy's score may have been due to luck or external factors, Bryn may not feel confident in swimming other strokes, and Carmen enjoying being with friends is a personal preference rather than a belief in her own abilities.

Question 4

Considering what we know about the kinds of models people are likely to imitate, we can guess that the girls in our classes will be least likely to imitate:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals are more likely to imitate those who they consider to be similar to themselves or those who hold high status in society. In this case, the girls in the class may not see themselves as becoming skillful auto mechanics, and may not view this as a high status occupation. Therefore, they may be less likely to imitate Anita.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Social cognitive theorists believe that occasional failures interspersed among frequent successes teach students that perseverance pays off. This helps to build their self-efficacy, which is the belief that they are capable of accomplishing a task. However, if students fail repeatedly without any success, it can lead to a decrease in self-efficacy and a sense of hopelessness. Therefore, occasional failure is necessary for growth and learning, but it should be balanced with opportunities for success.

Question 6

Three of the following experiences should promote higher self-efficacy about the task in question.Which one probably won't?

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. Andrea's improved performance is attributed to an external factor (lucky necklace) rather than her own abilities or efforts, which does not promote higher self-efficacy.

Question 7

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." George's misgivings can best be described as:

Accepted Answer

George's thoughts about not having what it takes to understand and remember the material indicate a lack of confidence in his ability to learn (self-efficacy for learning). This is different from self-efficacy for performance, which refers to one's belief in their ability to perform a specific task or skill. Emotion regulation and self-monitoring are not relevant to George's thoughts about his academic abilities.

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

Playing background music does not necessarily facilitate the retention component of modeling, as it does not involve actively repeating or recalling information. The other three options involve the teacher explicitly instructing students to repeat or remember certain steps or information.

Question 9

In what way does self-efficacy differ from the term self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform a specific task or accomplish a specific goal, while self-concept refers to an individual's overall perception of themselves, including their beliefs, values, and self-esteem. Self-efficacy is task-specific, while self-concept is a more broad and general concept.

Question 10

Mr.Limpitlaw wants to increase his female students' self-efficacy for mastering simple car maintenance procedures.He can best do this by:

Accepted Answer

While all of the options may be helpful, option C is the best choice as it specifically addresses the issue of self-efficacy by having the students observe other girls successfully completing the task. Seeing others perform the task successfully can increase one's belief in her own ability to do so as well.

Question 11

Which one of the following best illustrates collective self-efficacy in teachers?

Accepted Answer

Collective self-efficacy refers to the shared belief of a group or team that they can achieve their goals or tasks. The teachers at West Middle School confer weekly and are confident in their ability to help at-risk students, indicating a sense of collective self-efficacy. The other options describe coordination, agreement, and collaboration, but do not specifically indicate a shared belief in their collective ability to succeed.

Question 12

These four teachers claim to be practicing principles from social cognitive theory. Based on the following information, which one is not actually doing so?

Accepted Answer

The practice of social cognitive theory involves modeling and observing behavior, and then adjusting one's own behavior accordingly. However, Mr. Carlson's admission to smoking cigarettes does not demonstrate a behavioral model that students should follow, nor is it an example of observing and adjusting behavior.

Question 13

Listed below are four reasons that 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 consistent with the concept of self-efficacy?

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their own ability to succeed at tasks or goals. In this case, Carol's lack of belief in her ability to do the work successfully is consistent with low self-efficacy. Options A, B, and D suggest other reasons for lack of effort or engagement in schoolwork that do not directly relate to self-efficacy.

Question 14

Social cognitive theorists tell us that students are most likely to work for goals that:

Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theorists, individuals are most likely to invest effort towards goals that they have chosen for themselves. When students set their own goals, they are more motivated to achieve them because they are personally invested in the outcome. Goals that are set by parents or teachers may not be as motivating because the student may not feel a personal connection to the goal. Peer pressure can also influence behavior and goals, but it is not necessarily the most effective motivator long-term. Ultimately, self-selected goals are more likely to lead to sustained effort and achievement.

Question 15

Social cognitive theorists propose that three of the following are essential for students to learn successfully from models.Which one is not essential?

Accepted Answer

While reinforcement for good performance is beneficial for learning, it is not considered essential according to social cognitive theory. Attention, memory, and motivation are the three essential factors that contribute to successful learning from models.

Question 16

From the perspective of social cognitive theory, why might inner-city African American students learn more from an African American model who grew up in a ghetto than from a model of a different race or background?

Accepted Answer

According to social cognitive theory, students are more likely to learn from models they perceive as similar to themselves and who they believe have experiences and behaviors that are applicable to their own situations. Therefore, inner-city African American students may be more likely to learn from an African American model who grew up in a ghetto because they share similar backgrounds and experiences.

Question 17

Which one of the following statements best reflects the concept of collective self- efficacy?

Accepted Answer

Collective self-efficacy refers to the belief that a group of individuals has in their ability to accomplish a specific task or goal when they work together. Therefore, option C, stating that students may have greater confidence when working with others rather than alone, is the statement that best reflects the concept of collective self-efficacy.

Question 18

Imagine 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.

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook's discussion of modeling, students are more likely to imitate behaviors that they perceive as rewarding or enjoyable. Showing enthusiasm for professional education journals may not be viewed as rewarding or enjoyable by students and therefore, they may be less likely to imitate this behavior.

Question 19

Three of the following teacher statements are likely to enhance students' self-efficacy for mastering mathematics.Which one will not necessarily do so?

Accepted Answer

Statement D does not enhance students' self-efficacy because it attributes lack of success to a lack of motivation and effort, rather than emphasizing students' ability to improve through learning and practice.

Question 20

Claire is 8 years old and in third grade.Considering the aspects of self-regulation typically seen at different grade levels, which one of the following is most likely to be true for Claire?

Accepted Answer

At around 8 years old, children like Claire have developed a sense of right and wrong and are likely to feel guilty when they do something they know is wrong. This is part of their moral development and growing understanding of social norms and expectations.

Quiz 10: Social Cognitive Views of Learning