Self-efficacy and performance in mathematics: Reciprocal determinism in 33 nations.

TLDR

Reciprocal determinism, a core idea of Bandura’s social cognitive theory, is widely accepted in studies linking self‑beliefs to performance, yet empirical modeling of its bidirectional influence—especially between self‑efficacy and achievement—has been limited by data constraints. The study aims to test reciprocal effects between self‑efficacy and mathematics performance using cross‑sectional data. A structural‑equation model with a feedback loop was estimated for 15‑year‑olds in 33 nations using mathematics self‑efficacy and achievement data. The model fit well in 30 countries and supported reciprocal determinism in 24, indicating a universal psychological process across cultures.

Abstract

Reciprocal determinism is a central premise of Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory. Studies of the relationship between self-beliefs and performance tend to draw on this or related theories and usually endorse the notion of reciprocal determinism at a substantive-theoretical level. However, attempts to model this postulated mutual influence of self-beliefs and performance are few and are focused on the relationship between self-concept and performance. The reciprocal determinism of self-efficacy and performance seems to be without direct empirical support, probably because the longitudinal, repeated-measures data often considered necessary for this purpose are not available. It is possible, though, to model reciprocal effects with cross-sectional data. In the analyses reported in this article, the authors achieved this using a structural equation model in which the mutual influence of self-efficacy and performance in mathematics is represented as a feedback loop. This model was estimated in each of 33 nations on the basis of data on the mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics achievement of 15-year-olds. The model was a good fit to the data in 30 nations and was supportive of reciprocal determinism in 24 of these, suggesting a fundamental psychological process that transcends national and cultural boundaries.