General Self-Efficacy and the Discriminant Validity of the Six Compound Traits

Abstract

A three-item measure of general self-efficacy was developed. Based upon the analysis of data collected from three studies, the construct was found to meet the four criteria for a compound trait. Meeting criteria 1 and 2, the measure was found to be unidimensional and to have acceptable internal reliability. Meeting criterion 3, a combination of elemental traits accounted for an average of 35 percent of the variance in the construct. Meeting criterion 4, the measure of self-efficacy was found to account for incremental variance in a series of traits after the effects of the elemental traits were removed statistically via hierarchical regression analysis. Additional analyses indicated that while closely related to a measure of self-esteem (mean correlation =.69), the constructs do possess discriminant validity. Finally answering a separate research question, confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess whether the six compound traits investigated in Chapters 4 through 9 possess discriminant validity from a measurement perspective. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis strongly supported the discriminant validity of the six traits (task orientation, the need for learning, competitiveness, the need for activity, the need for play, and effectance motivation).