Differences in self-efficacy beliefs between girls in the top 1.5% and the top 3% in general cognitive ability who participate in gifted programs

Abstract

In order to reach gender equity in the gifted population, an affirmative action policy was instituted in Israel to increase the number of girls identified as gifted. The purpose of this study was to compare the self-efficacy beliefs of girls in the top 1.5% (gifted girls (GG)) with those of girls in the top 3% (GG in affirmative action). It was found that girls in the top 3% have higher social and mathematical self-efficacy beliefs than girls in the top 1.5% do. The findings support the literature regarding the level of giftedness as a risk factor for the social adjustment of GG. The surprising finding in the mathematical field is explained by a stronger conflict that exists among GG concerning excellence in a traditional male field. The current study contributes new insights into the emotional aspects accompanying giftedness.

Motivation, Self-Efficiency, and Academic Achievement Private Teacher Professional Education Students in Differentiated Learning Courses

“…Academic motivation is a function of one's expectations for success and is considered a significant psychological construct in the learning process and academic achievement in college, defined as an academic driving force which promotes, directs, empowers, and maintains learning activities to meet the needs and stimulate students' interest in learning (Blašková, 2014;Donche et al, 2014). On the other hand, selfefficacy refers to belief in one's ability to pursue goals and overcome obstacles based on experience, competence, and talent (Kohan-Mass & Tal, 2019;Tsang et al, 2012). Self-efficacy is also a predictor of academic achievement, and academic motivation (Ahmadi et al, 2021), positively related to academic anxiety (Lei et al, 2021), and reduced procrastination (Steel, 2007) and mediates the relationship between competence and learning engagement (Zhen et al, 2017), defined as one's belief and belief in one's ability to organize, executing courses, completing assignments and making things a reality that succeeds.…”