Self-efficacy and strategy on complex tasks

The mediational role of strategy in the relationship between self-efficacy and performance on complex tasks is analysed. Within an individual's multid imensional self-efficacy belief system, perceived capabilities for conducti ng searches in different modalities and for the processing of information, including the use of tools to overcome cognitive limits, are predicted to h ave differential impacts on the use of judgmental heuristics and biases and the choice of strategies. Search efficacy is predicted to differ across se arch modalities, such as experimentation, interpersonal questioning, electr onic search and passive study, as a function of differences in personal and situational determinants. Processing efficacy is predicted to generalise across a much wider range of cognitive tasks, depending upon perceived similarities in the content of t asks (e.g. verbal versus quantitative) and the tools used. Low search effic acy is predicted to lead to greater use of the availability heuristic, whil e low processing efficacy is predicted to lead to greater use of the anchor ing and adjustment and representativeness heuristics. Choices of specific s trategies are predicted from different combinations of weak and strong effi cacy beliefs for exploratory search and deliberative processing.