The effects of performance-contingent rewards and proximal goals on children's task motivation, self-efficacy, and skillful performance were compared in a study of elementary school students. Results indicated that combining rewards with goals resulted in the highest self-efficacy and skill performance. (Author/DF)

Children who lacked subtraction skills received didactic training in subtraction with effort attributional feedback concerning past achievement, with feedback concerning future achievement, or with no feedback. Results showed that attributional feedback for past achievement led to more rapid progress in mastering subtraction operations, greater…

Sixth-graders learning disabled in mathematics (N=30) received subtraction training that included instruction and practice opportunities. Some children set proximal performance goals, others had comparable proximal goals assigned, and some received training without goals. Participation in goal setting led to the highest self-efficacy and…

The study investigated the development of 48 gifted adolescents' competencies and achievement related cognitions in mathematical skill development and examined the effects of school achievement level and sex. Ss completed a self instructional packet on mathematical residues (remainders) and were periodically assessed on perceived ability, task…

Social comparative information and proximal goals' influence on skillful performance and percepts of self-efficacy were examined in low-achieving children in arithmetic. A significant main effect on perceived efficacy due to proximal goals was found. Problem-solving goals and comparative information treatments together resulted in the highest…

This experiment investigated how children's self-efficacy and achievement were influenced by their observing peer models learn a cognitive skill. Within this context, the effects of modeled mastery and coping behaviors were explored. The subjects were 72 children aged 8 to 10 who had experienced difficulties learning subtraction with regrouping…

This study investigated how task strategies and attributions for success during mathematics learning influenced children's self-efficacy and skills. Attribution of success to high ability exerted the strongest influence on increases in self-efficacy. Implications for teaching are discussed. (Author/MT)

This study explored how task strategies and attributions for success during cognitive skill acquisition influenced self-efficacy and skillful performance. Fifty children aged 9 to 10 who lacked division skills received instruction and practice opportunities. Task strategies were assessed by recording children's verbalizations while they solved…

A model of achievement applicable to learning disabled students is presented which comprises entry characteristics, self-efficacy for learning, task engagement variables, and efficacy cues. Research is summarized on effects of social and instructional variables on self-efficacy and achievement behaviors. Self-efficacy appeared to predict student…

This paper reviews self-efficacy research with special emphasis on students in school. Bandura's emphasis on domain-specific assessment is useful for understanding student learning and fits well with current research on instructional processes. A self-efficacy model of student learning is presented, comprising entry characteristics, self-efficacy…

The self-regulation of attributions, beliefs concerning the causes of outcomes, is explored. An increasing body of research substantiates the idea that effective self-regulation depends on forming positive attributions that promote perceptions of competence and sustain motivation directed toward learning. Self-regulation refers to the process by…

The idea that schooling socialization practices may influence students' self-regulated learning through their effects on attributions and perceived self-efficacy is discussed, focusing on students' beliefs about their abilities. From an attributional perspective, ability is generally viewed as a relatively fixed quality, but researchers have begun…

Two experiments tested the idea that the means by which children acquire efficacy information can produce different levels of task motivation and self-perception of competence. In Experiment 1, children periodically received either ability attributional feedback, effort feedback, ability plus effort feedback, or no attributional feedback. Although…

Two experiments investigated how attributional feedback sequence influences children's motivation, attributions, self-efficacy, and performance. Third graders lacking subtraction skills received training and solved problems with one of four ability and/or effort feedback sequences. Children initially receiving ability feedback developed higher…

This paper discusses the role of perceived self-efficacy during self-regulated learning, the process whereby students' cognitions manifest themselves in behaviors systematically oriented toward the attainment of academic learning goals. The conceptual focus derives from A. Bandura's social cognitive learning theory. A model of cognitive skill…