The dynamic change of self-efficacy in information searching on the Internet: influence of valence of experience and prior self-efficacy.
The authors investigated the dynamic change of specific self-efficacy in information searching on the Internet. In Study 1, the valence of experience was manipulated by task difficulty to obtain the developmental curve of self-efficacy change in consecutive information-searching trials. The results indicated that positive task experiences in information searching elicited a linear increase in self-efficacy. In contrast, negative task experiences elicited a more rapid decrease in self-efficacy. Self-efficacy of participants decreased to a lower level after the first negative experience and displayed a quadratic trend toward a floor effect. In Study 2, the authors examined the moderating effect of initial self-efficacy on the valence of experience. The enhancement effect of positive task experience on self-efficacy was more pronounced for individuals with lower levels of self-efficacy, whereas the deteriorating effect of negative experience was more prominent for individuals with higher levels of self-efficacy.
Chiou
Wen-Bin
WB
Center for Teacher Education, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. wbchiou@mail.nsysu.edu.tw
Wan
Chin-Sheng
CS
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003197:Computer Literacy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy