B. Moriarty et al., THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-EFFICACY AS A MEDIATING VARIABLE BETWEEN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENT, British journal of educational psychology, 65, 1995, pp. 73-84
The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which se
lf-efficacy acts as a mediating variable between the learning environm
ent and achievement. Seven year 5 classes (N=179 students aged 9 to 10
years) were allocated randomly to cooperative, competitive or individ
ualistic environments for twice-weekly social studies lessons, changin
g environments after five weeks. Data collected on self-efficacy and a
chievement in weeks 5 and 10 indicated that co-operative environments
led to higher self-efficacy and achievement as well as more appropriat
e behaviour. The performance of particular tasks under competition app
ears to be enhanced when students have previously worked co-operativel
y, but may be difficult to sustain as self-efficacy and behaviour stan
dards decline.