The Changers Library

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The Changers Library
Achieving Self Efficacy Story
Breakout FOLIO Course
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Story (Part 2) Achieving Self Efficacy
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Tina Transfer

• Tinas Personality-Type quiz has certainly got
  her thinking!
• She was surprised to learn that she is an
  introvert rather than an extrovert as she has
  always seen herself as confident and outgoing.
• Tina starts to question whether she will manage
  to take on a new challenge at work.

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Will I be able to break out of the box?
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Self-efficacy

• Tina studied psychology at A Level and remembers
  learning about social cognitive theory which, she
  remembers, is about believing that you can reach
  your goals.
• After some research on the Internet, Tina
  discovers that the concept she is thinking of is
  self-efficacy.

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The General Self-Efficacy Scale

• Tina finds a 10 question scale on the Internet
  which looks interesting. The scale assesses
  perceived self-efficacy to predict coping with
  daily hassles Tina thought That sounds just
  like the library and information profession to
  me!
• Tina decides to give it a go and fills in the
  scale one lunchtime.

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The Questions

• I can always manage to solve difficult problems
  if I try hard enough.
• If someone opposes me, I can find the means and
  ways to get what I want.
• It is easy for me to stick to my aims and
  accomplish my goals.
• I am confident that I could deal efficiently with
  unexpected events.
• Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to
  handle unforeseen situations.
• I can solve most problems if I invest the
  necessary effort.
• I can remain calm when facing difficulties
  because I can rely on my coping abilities.
• When I am confronted with a problem, I can
  usually find several solutions.
• If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a
  solution.
• I can usually handle whatever comes my way.

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Scale Ratings

• Tina reads that she should rate herself for each
  question as follows
• 1 Not at all true  
• 2 Hardly true  
• 3 Moderately true  
• 4 Exactly true

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Tinas Responses

• I can always manage to solve difficult problems
  if I try hard enough. 4 Exactly true
• If someone opposes me, I can find the means and
  ways to get what I want. 1 Not at all true
• It is easy for me to stick to my aims and
  accomplish my goals. 3 Moderately true
• I am confident that I could deal efficiently with
  unexpected events. 4 Exactly true
• Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to
  handle unforeseen situations. 4 Exactly true
• I can solve most problems if I invest the
  necessary effort. 4 Exactly true
• I can remain calm when facing difficulties
  because I can rely on my coping abilities. 3
  Moderately true
• When I am confronted with a problem, I can
  usually find several solutions. 3 Moderately
  true
• If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a
  solution. 4 Exactly true
• I can usually handle whatever comes my way. 4
  Exactly true

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Lunchtime over!

• Tina is quite pleased with her results as she
  seems to be more confident than she first
  thought. This reassures her that she will be
  able to take on new challenges at work.

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Ways to increase self-efficacy

• Live a life of goals. We can't develop
  self-efficacy unless we succeed at things, and we
  can't succeed if we don't have goals. Set goals
  for your life, and give yourself credit when you
  achieve them.
• Set reasonable goals. Aim to set challenging
  levels, but also realistic enough to actually
  reach them.
• Find good role models. A model doesn't have to be
  someone you actually know, but they should be
  inspirational figures who demonstrate mastery.
• Talk to yourself positively. Dont belittle
  yourself for the tiniest faults, build yourself
  up for the smallest successes.
• Remember that it takes energy and effort to
  succeed.
• Bearing these suggestions in mind, complete
  todays task (See email).

BBC Health website (see www.bbc.co.uk/health/cond
itions/mental_health/coping_skills.shtmlself-effi
cacy)
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Reference

• Schwarzer, R. Jerusalem, M. (1993) Appendix for
  General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) Available at
  http//userpage.fu-berlin.de/health/engscal.htm
  online Accessed March 2008

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End of Part 2