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Chi-square analyses of self-efficacy data: A cautionary note

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Abstract

To gauge relations between perceived self-efficacy and behavior, researchers have employed a “microanalytic congruence” measure that assesses the percentage of individual tasks for which self-efficacy judgments and performance are congruent. Lee (1985) has proposed that chi-square analyses should be employed to assess the statistical significance of efficacy-behavior congruences. The present paper demonstrates that such analyses are inappropriate. Chi-square analyses assume that each of the observations being analyzed is independent of each of the other observations. This assumption is violated in self-efficacy data because each individual subject contributes more than one observation to the analysis. Alternative analyses of self-efficacy data are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Box 4348, 60680, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Daniel Cervone

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  1. Daniel Cervone
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Additional information

Gratitude is expressed to Morris DeGroot for his statistical suggestions and to Ron Pavone for his comments on the manuscript.

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Cervone, D. Chi-square analyses of self-efficacy data: A cautionary note. Cogn Ther Res 11, 709–714 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01176007

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01176007

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