Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In a qualitative study of preservice teacher efficacy, trajectories of 12 elementary teacher candidates enrolled in an elementary mathematics methods course were examined. Data sources included efficacy scales, observations, interviews, and math logs. A Constructivist Grounded Theory approach was used. Preservice teacher learning trajectories had consistent stages of activity and implications for refinement of mathematics methods courses were identified.

Publication Type: Roundtable Discussion/Poster
Abstract: Abstract
Goddard, Hoy, and Woolfolk-Hoy (2000) stated that teachers have higher efficacy when working with certain students, and those with high efficacy increase student achievement. One purpose of this pilot study is to examine whether there is a relationship between teachers’ efficacy, attitudes about multicultural populations, and multicultural teaching efficacy. One of the hypotheses is that there is a correlation between teachers’ efficacy in teaching White students and culturally diverse students. The other hypothesis is that there is a correlation between teachers’ racial attitude and their multicultural teaching efficacy. The results show significant correlations between multicultural teaching efficacy, multicultural experience, and attitude among the small sample of White teachers in two middle school settings with a substantial amount of culturally diverse students.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This research tries to discover how NGO?s dependency and efficacy covariate and what are the mechanisms that work through state interventions on NGOs? efficacy.

Publication Type: Paper Presentation
Abstract: This study tested the reliability, validity and model fit of the teacher efficacy survey for teachers who teach at-risk students. Teacher efficacy has received much attention and discussion. However, less attention has been paid to the teachers who teach at-risk students. In this study, teacher efficacy surveys were distributed among 138 teachers who taught in seven juvenile correction facilities in a U.S. state. This instrument was analyzed by both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch modeling at the subscale level. The results tested whether the survey data fit the theoretical model as well as for general instrument improvement. Most of the instrument was found to be valid and reliable. The presentation will compare and contrast the two methodological strategies used.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines how patterns in media use and the particular characteristics of political cultures shape feelings of political efficacy in Asia. More specifically, it reports results of a study that includes focus group interviews and a large scale survey conducted in Singapore, aiming to explore, 1) how particular characteristics of Asian political cultures engender dimensions of political efficacy that are different than those that have been observed in the European and North American contexts, and 2) how patterns in media use relate to feelings of political efficacy in these cultures.Although political efficacy is a variable that has been widely discussed and measured in the political communication literature, as Wu (2003) argues, it has most often been measured to explain other variables, but not to be explained itself. It is most typically measured to understand an individual?s sense of how worthy her participation in politics is, and in general, it is measured in terms of two dimensions: Internal efficacy, which refers to one?s sense of her own capacity to contribute to, or participate in, the political system, and, external efficacy, which refers to one?s sense of whether or not the political system itself responds to her contributions, or, whether or not these contributions make a difference in the system. Since this concept was first introduced in the 1950s, researchers have been working on developing questions that will capture these two dimensions. Although variations in the literature are ample, Niemi, Craig, and Mattel?s (1991) set of questions seem to have somewhat standardized measurement. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature in two ways: 1)It explores whether or not the existing definitions of efficacy and the questions measuring them adequately explain efficacy in the Asian political cultures. It seems that attempts to standardize measures of efficacy produced questions that are largely based on North American and/or Western European political cultures, but nevertheless continue to be used for various other political cultures as well. It is not clear how valid and adequate these questions are in different contexts, thus, this study aims to test their aptness for Asian political cultures. In addition, it also looks for dimensions of efficacy that are unique to these cultures and suggests possible questions to measure them. 2)It identifies how patterns in media use relate to various dimensions of efficacy. Since media provide an important source for our basic orientation to the political environment, their influence on shaping our assessment of how we fare within that environment is quite substantial. Thus, by mapping patterns in media use, this study explores how both the type of media used and the content of media messages shape political efficacy.References:Niemi, R. G., Craig, S.C. & Mattei, F. (1991). Measuring Internal Political Efficacy in the 1988 National Election Study, American Political Science Review, 85, 1407-1413.Wu, C. (2003). Psycho-political correlates of political efficacy: The case of the 1994 New Orleans mayoral election, Journal of Black Studies, 33 (6), 729-760