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A Revisit of General Self-Efficacy Scale: Uni- or Multi-dimensional?

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Abstract

While a large body of research provides strong evidence that general self-efficacy (GSE) is a unidimensional construct, no study has been conducted to test or compare its single-factor structure with alternative factor structures (e.g., two-factor structure). The main purpose of this study was to re-examine its factor structure in a Chinese context. The Chinese version of GSE scale was administered to 195 Chinese university students. Personal identity and optimism instruments were also used to examine the predictive validity of GSE. Exploratory factor analysis determined that a two-factor solution was best fitting, explaining 54.49 % of the variance, which was reproduced reliably in the two subsamples. Through a series of factor model testing by confirmatory factor analysis, findings indicated that the two-factor structure was reliable, internally valid as demonstrated. Subsequent regression analyses also showed that only one of the two factors significantly predicted personal identity and optimism, whereas the other one was irrelevant. The findings emphasized the value of revisiting GSE as a uni- or multi-dimensional construct.

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  1. Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

    Mingming Zhou

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Table 3 Items for general self-efficacy scale
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Zhou, M. A Revisit of General Self-Efficacy Scale: Uni- or Multi-dimensional?. Curr Psychol 35, 427–436 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9311-4

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