Reactivity of Measures of Self-efficacy in Tasks Involving Assertiveness

Abstract

Self-efficacy is normally measured by a pencil-and-paper test, and two separate studies involving snake phobics have indicated that this test does not have significant reactive effects on related behaviour. Two experiments are reported which examine the possibilities of measurement reactivity with a different type of behaviour, the social skill of assertiveness. In the first experiment, 46 non-assertive female students served as subjects. Measuring efficacy was shown to have reactive effects on later behaviour. These reactive effects showed consistent changes during the course of an assertiveness training programme, with the effect of measurement being initially to enhance performance and later to produce slight decrements. A second experiment examined the possibility that this change was related to differing levels of assertiveness. Sixty female students of varying levels of assertiveness participated in this study; again, reactive effects occurred, but they were not related to level of assertiveness. The question of possible therapeutic advantages and disadvantages of using efficacy measures at various points during therapy was raised.