Publication Type: Individual Presentation
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This investigation sought to describe the self-regulatory efficacy perceptions of a population of predominantly students of African descent in the ‘Diamond Minds’ out-of-school program. The work responded to the problem of persistently low academic performance and erratic school performance among a large proportion of the student population. Additionally, the study sought to assist the administration and staff of the ‘Diamond Minds’ program in helping students in becoming successful self-regulated learners. It focused of self-efficacy for self-regulation as a motivating variable in self-regulated learning. The study was fruitful because it paints an important picture of the kind of efficacy beliefs different groups within the ‘Diamond Minds’ student population possess.

The study suggests that ability labels given to students have an impact on the students’ perceptions of their ability to self-regulate their learning successfully. This is important to consider since the entire population of ‘Diamond Minds’ is comprised of students labeled “at risk for academic failure.” The study also suggests that there are changes in students’ experiences as they progress through school that impact their ability to perceive themselves as capable of regulating their own learning. In line with the previous research studies, the study concludes that program changes should include teaching students more effective ways of negotiating the school experiences that include not only training in self-regulated learning, but also strategies that affirm their potential and minimize the influence of negative school experiences.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Deaths attributable to modifiable causes continue to rise, and concerns over health are increasingly prominent today moreso than in the past in part because of the growing social burdens wrought by comorbidity, increasing health care costs, and an aging population. Campaigns and interventions are often problematic, but health messages in the news media represent an untapped resource for impacting healthy behaviors, particularly in the context of cancer. The present research investigates how two types of messages, self-efficacy and response efficacy, can influence attitudes and behavioral intentions after exposure to cancer news stories. An experiment (N = 1085 participants) showed that the type of behavior (prevention or detection) had a significant influence on the impact of efficacy messages in the news media. Results supported the mediating role of attitudes on the relationship between efficacy messages and behavioral intentions. The discussion highlights implications for health practitioners, journalists, and the public.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The issues related to the discrepancies between self-esteem or self-efficacy in teacher candidates is addressed. The definitions for teacher candidates’ beliefs on how they see themselves as future educational professionals will be explored.

Publication Type: Roundtable
Abstract: This investigation reports on one dimension in an ongoing evaluation of the Anchorage Wellness Court (AWC), a drug treatment court for offenders charged with an alcohol related offense, most often driving under the influence. Graduates of the AWC who had been at risk for varying lengths of time from six months to 2 years were contacted and measures of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1995; DiClemente, Carbonari, Montgomery and Hughes, 1994) and stages of change (Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1992) were collected. Additionally, the graduates provided narrative reports on their treatment in the AWC and experiences since graduation, including personal accounts of their recovery and ongoing desistance from alcohol. This preliminary analysis focuses on simple pre-post comparisons of the measures of change and self-efficacy and explores their relationship to standard measures of recidivism and relapse and the ultimate success or failure of the client. The self-narratives are analyzed for indicators of a redemption script (Maruna, 2000) constructed by the AWC graduates to make sense of their past lives and present self.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: This study examined Asian American adolescents' adherence to Asian and European cultural values and their relationship to self-esteem, cognitive flexibility, self-efficacy as they relate to teaching. learning, and counseling.