TESTING THE SELF-EFFICACY PERFORMANCE LINKAGE OF SOCIAL-COGNITIVE THEORY

Past empirical research examining the relationship of self-efficacy pe rceptions and performance has had several limitations. Most studies we re performed in the laboratory with tasks not directly related to indi vidual work performance. As a consequence, many findings are not gener alizable to individual work performance. This study tested the self-ef ficacy-performance model found in Bandura's social-cognitive theory in a work setting, with a sample of 776 American university employees, a nd with discriminant function analyses. Respondents indicated that per formance with computers significantly predicted perceptions of high an d low self-efficacy. Results provide additional support for social-cog nitive theory as outlined by Bandura.