Literacy Self-efficacy Research Articles

Narrowing the Achievement Gap: Motivation, Engagement, and Self-Efficacy Matter

This paper reports some of the findings of a two-year mixed methods longitudinal study in a high-poverty junior school in Dublin, Ireland, which was successful in significantly raising children's literacy achievement in reading, writing, and spelling and in enhancing their motivation, engagement, ability to self-regulate learning, and sense of self-efficacy. Critical factors in the success of the intervention were the dual emphasis on both the cognitive and affective dimensions of literacy developed through a meaning-oriented approach to instruction and the multifaceted professional development programme provided to teachers. Changes made to the instructional programme are described with reference to the research on motivation, engagement, and self-efficacy in literacy.

Student Information Literacy: Psychometric Validation of a Self-Efficacy Report

Psychometric characteristics of the Student Information Literacy Self-efficacy Report based on responses from 498 students ages 9 to 12 years are reported. Students report their self-efficacy (confidence and difficulty) in 11 different phases of being information literate, i.e., developing a topic, planning, self-management, locating sources, selecting sources, retrieving information, analysing information, evaluating information, synthesising knowledge, presenting knowledge, and self-evaluation using a positively packed rating scale. The data were strongly internally consistent (Cronbach alpha=.95) with a test-retest reliability of .78. The 11 phases, factors measured by a matching pair of self-efficacy questions, were confirmed (chi2=529.68; df= 198; RMSEA =.058; TLI=.940). Ratings were correlated low with teachers' ratings and test scores of information literacy skills and moderately correlated with academic self-concept. The test provides unique information about students' self-efficacy for information literacy. Its use in classrooms is warranted.