title: The changing signs in the relationships among self-efficacy, personal goals, and performance.
abstract: The common interpretation of the positive correlation among self-efficacy, personal goals, and performance is questioned. Using self-efficacy theory (A. Bandura, 1977), it was predicted that cross-sectional correlational results were a function of past performance's influence on self-efficacy, and using control theory (W. T. Powers, 1973), it was predicted that self-efficacy could negatively influence subsequent performance. These predictions were supported with 56 undergraduate participants, using a within-person procedure. Personal goals were also positively influenced by self-efficacy and performance but negatively related to subsequent performance. A 2nd study involving 185 undergraduates found that manipulated goal level positively predicted performance and self-efficacy positively predicted performance in the difficult-goal condition. The discussion focuses on conditions likely to affect the sign of the relationship among self-efficacy, goals, and performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA. vancouve@ohio.edu
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vancouver
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis