Beliefs About Abilities and Epistemic Beliefs: Aspects of Cognitive Flexibility in Information-Rich Environments

1 Theoretical Perspectives The Nature of Human Agency Human Agency in Triadic Reciprocal Causation Determinism and the Exercise of Self-Influence Related Views of Personal Efficacy 2 The Nature and Structure of Self-Efficacy Perceived Self-Efficacy as a Generative Capability Active Producers versus Passive Foretellers of Performances The Self-Efficacy Approach to Personal Causation Multidimensionality of Self-Efficacy Belief Systems Self-Efficacy Causality Sources of Discordance Between Efficacy Judgment and Action 3 Sources of Self-Efficacy Enactive Mastery Experience Vicarious Experience Verbal Persuasion Physiological and Affective States Integration of Efficacy Information 4 Mediating Processes Cognitive Processes Motivational Processes Affective Processes Selection Processes 5 Developmental Analysis of Self-Efficacy Origins of a Sense of Personal Agency Familial Sources of Self-Efficacy Peers and the Broadening and Validation of Self-Efficacy School as an Agency for Cultivating Self-Efficacy Growth of Self-Efficacy through Transitional Experiences of Adolescence Self-Efficacy Concerns of Adulthood Reappraisals of Self-Efficacy with Advancing Age 6 Cognitive Functioning Students' Cognitive Self-Efficacy Teachers' Perceived Efficacy Collective School Efficacy 7 Health Functioning Biological Effects of Perceived Self-Efficacy Perceived Self-Efficacy in Health Promoting Behavior Prognostic Judgments and Perceived Self-Efficacy 8 Clinical Functioning Anxiety and Phobic Dysfunctions Depression Eating Disorders Alcohol and Drug Abuse 9 Athletic Functioning Development of Athletic Skills Self-Regulation of Athletic Performance Collective Team Efficacy Psychobiological Effects of Physical Exercise 10 Organizational Functioning Career Development and Pursuits Mastery of Occupational Roles Self-Efficacy in Organizational Decision Making Self-Efficacy in Enactment of Occupational Roles Collective Organizational Efficacy 11 Collective Efficacy Gauging Collective Efficacy Political Efficacy Enablement by Media Modes of Influence Enablement for Sociocultural Change Underminers of Collective Efficacy References Name and Subject Indexes. Show more

We discuss the expectancy-value theory of motivation, focusing on an expectancy-value model developed and researched by Eccles, Wigfield, and their colleagues. Definitions of crucial constructs in the model, including ability beliefs, expectancies for success, and the components of subjective task values, are provided. These definitions are compared to those of related constructs, including self-efficacy, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and interest. Research is reviewed dealing with two issues: (1) change in children's and adolescents' ability beliefs, expectancies for success, and subjective values, and (2) relations of children's and adolescents' ability-expectancy beliefs and subjective task values to their performance and choice of activities. Copyright 2000 Academic Press. Show more