Examining validity of sources of mathematics self-efficacy scale in Turkey

Abstract

The main purpose of the current study is to examine the construct, convergent and discriminant validity of the Sources of Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (Usher & Pajares, 2009) in a Turkish sample. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986) served as the theoretical framework for the current study. According to Bandura (1986), people’s selfefficacy develops from 4 sources: (1) Mastery Experiences, (2) Vicarious Experience (3) Social Persuasion and (4) Physiological States. Research studies in this area revealed that mastery experiences and social persuasion are highly correlated. Even it is not clear that these two constructs are distinct constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to examine the construct validity of the scale. In order to see if mastery experiences and social persuasion are two distinct constructs, discriminant validity was examined. The participants were 616 secondary school students in Turkey. 3-factor and 4-factor models were nearly identical in terms of goodness of fit of data in the confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis of discriminant validity revealed that mastery experiences and social persuasion are not two different constructs.