Psychology & well-being
Self-efficacy scale: what it is and how to measure it
- Concept
- Self-Efficacy
- Field
- Psychology & well-being
- Scales in the library
- 3
- Items
- 21
Self-efficacy is a person's belief that they can successfully carry out the actions needed to reach a desired outcome. The concept was introduced by Bandura in social cognitive theory and reused in TPB, learning motivation models and psychological empowerment theory. In theses in Vietnam, it appears in studies on student academic results, entrepreneurial intention, school stress and job performance.
Comparing the scales
| Scale | Author (year) | Items | Response format | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Self-Efficacy (GSE) General Self-Efficacy Scale | Schwarzer & Jerusalem (1995) | 10 | 4-point | Choose for measuring general self-belief, not tied to a domain; usable for students and workers. |
| Self-Efficacy for Learning and Performance (SE) MSLQ motivation scales | Pintrich et al. (1991) | 8 | 7-point | Choose when the topic is learning and tied to a specific course. |
| Competence (CO) Psychological empowerment scale | Spreitzer (1995) | 3 | Likert 7-point | Choose when the topic is employees; 3 items measuring confidence in work competence in Spreitzer's (1995) empowerment model. |
Items of each scale
Original English wording from the published source. Replace placeholders such as [system] or
[brand] with what your study is about, and pilot the questionnaire with 20 to 30 respondents first.
General Self-Efficacy (GSE) · General Self-Efficacy Scale
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| GSE1 | I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough. |
| GSE2 | If someone opposes me, I can find the means and ways to get what I want. |
| GSE3 | It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals. |
| GSE4 | I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events. |
| GSE5 | Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to handle unforeseen situations. |
| GSE6 | I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort. |
| GSE7 | I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities. |
| GSE8 | When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions. |
| GSE9 | If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a solution. |
| GSE10 | I can usually handle whatever comes my way. |
Source: Schwarzer & Jerusalem (1995). Response scale, licence and APA reference: General Self-Efficacy Scale.
Self-Efficacy for Learning and Performance (SE) · MSLQ motivation scales
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| SE1 | I believe I will receive an excellent grade in this class. |
| SE2 | I'm certain I can understand the most difficult material presented in the readings for this course. |
| SE3 | I'm confident I can learn the basic concepts taught in this course. |
| SE4 | I'm confident I can understand the most complex material presented by the instructor in this course. |
| SE5 | I'm confident I can do an excellent job on the assignments and tests in this course. |
| SE6 | I expect to do well in this class. |
| SE7 | I'm certain I can master the skills being taught in this class. |
| SE8 | Considering the difficulty of this course, the teacher, and my skills, I think I will do well in this class. |
Source: Pintrich et al. (1991). Response scale, licence and APA reference: MSLQ motivation scales.
Competence (CO) · Psychological empowerment scale
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| CO1 | I am confident about my ability to do my job. |
| CO2 | I am self-assured about my capabilities to perform my work activities. |
| CO3 | I have mastered the skills necessary for my job. |
Source: Spreitzer (1995). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Psychological empowerment scale.
Tips
- The GSE uses a 4-point scale of how true each statement is (1 = Not at all true ... 4 = Exactly true), with no midpoint. Keep the original scale if you want to compare with other studies.
- The MSLQ scale asks about 'this course'. State the course name at the start of the question block so respondents do not answer about the whole program.
- The GSE has 10 items, no reverse-coded items; total score 10 to 40. You can report the mean score alongside SEM results.
- Bandura's self-efficacy is domain-specific. If your topic is a specific behavior (for example entrepreneurship), consider a domain-specific scale or the PBC of TPB.
Once you have a scale, put the concept in the research model drawer to state your hypotheses, work out the minimum sample size, and after data collection check reliability with the Cronbach's alpha calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do self-efficacy and self-esteem differ?
Self-efficacy is the belief that you can do a task. Self-esteem is the overall evaluation of your own worth. A person can be confident in doing one task well and still think poorly of themselves.
Is there an official Vietnamese version of the GSE?
Schwarzer's official site has many translations but no Vietnamese version. The version on this site was translated by our editors for reference; for research, back-translate, pilot test, and cite the translator if you use a published Vietnamese version.
Should I use the GSE or the MSLQ confidence scale for students?
If your topic is results in a specific course, use the MSLQ because its items are tied to the course. If your topic is mental health or general adaptability, use the GSE.