Page 496 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

SelF-eFFICACy n 463

and nurse researchers do use large govern- actually touching the snakes, (2) role model-
ment databases, but none are collected specif- ing or seeing others touch the snakes, and
ically by nurse researchers to answer nursing (3) the control group. Results suggested that S
research questions. This is a problem to the self-efficacy was predictive of subsequent
extent that learning takes place best when behavior, and enactive attainment resulted
examples and experiences relate closely to in stronger and more generalized (to other
daily (nursing) experience. Certainly, prob- snakes) self-efficacy expectations. Since that
lems peculiar to but not exclusive to nursing early work, Bandura and colleagues have
research are more easily taught with exam- repeatedly demonstrated that individuals
ples from real life. This is a problem also to become efficacious in a particular domain of
the extent that nursing research data sets can, function through four mechanisms: enactive
in fact, generate new knowledge, whether by mastery experience, vicarious experience,
reanalysis or by stimulation of further inves- verbal persuasion, and physiological and
tigation and hypothesis generation. affective states (Bandura, 1997, p. 4).
The theory of self-efficacy has been used
Judith R. Graves extensively in nursing research with regard
to describing and evaluating behaviors as
well as developing and implementing inter-
ventions. most recently, the use of self-effi-
Self-efficacy cacy theory in nursing has focused on health
behaviors (e.g., exercise, cancer screening),
cultural competence of nurses, function
Self-efficacy, which is the primary component and self-care, nursing care competence and
of social cognitive theory, is defined as an behaviors (e.g., dementia care), patient self-
individual’s judgment of his or her capabili- management, breastfeeding for new moth-
ties to organize and execute courses of action ers, and infant self-care. Increasingly, use of
to achieve a certain goal (Bandura, 1977, self-efficacy has extended to include multi-
p. 1; 1986, p. 2; 1995, p. 3; 1997, p. 4; Bandura, ple cultures (e.g., Chinese, Korean, African
Adams, & Beyer, 1977, p. 7). Bandura differ- American), all age groups and both men and
entiates self-efficacy expectations from out- women. What is central to the use of the the-
come expectations. Outcome expectations ory of self-efficacy in nursing research is for
are a person’s judgment that a given behav- the researcher to maintain a fit between the
ior will lead to certain outcomes. Self-efficacy behavior that is being considered and effi-
and outcome expectations were differenti- cacy and outcome expectations. For exam-
ated because individuals can believe that ple, if the behavior of interest is adhering
a certain behavior will result in a specific to a low-salt diet, the self-efficacy measure
outcome; however, they may not believe that should focus on the challenges related to this
they are capable of performing the behavior specific behavior (when out to dinner, etc.).
required for the outcome to occur. Self-efficacy has been used to improve
The early research using the theory of and understand health behaviors with
self-efficacy was done to test the assumption regard to exercise (Chang, Fang, & yang,
that exposure to treatment conditions could 2006, p. 13; hays, pressler, Damush, Rawl, &
result in behavioral change by altering an Clark, 2010, p. 14; lee, Arthur, & Avis,
individual’s level and strength of self-efficacy. 2008, p. 15; murrock & madigan, 2008,
In the initial study (Bandura, 1977, p. 7), 33 p. 12; Resnick, gruber-Baldini, et al., 2009;
subjects with snake phobias were randomly Resnick, luisi, et al., 2008; van den Akker-
assigned to three different treatment condi- Scheek et al., 2007, p. 8). Specifically, these
tions: (1) enactive attainment, which included nursing studies considered the impact of