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Article
Examining the Relationships Between Self-efficacy, Task-relevant Attentional Control, and Task Performance: Evidence from Event-related Brain Potentials
British Journal of Psychology (2015)
  • Jason R. Themanson, Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Peter J. Peter J. Rosen, Washington State University
Abstract
Self-efficacy (SE) is a modifiable psychosocial factor related to individuals’ beliefs in their capabilities to successfully complete courses of action and has been shown to be positively associated with task performance. The authors hypothesized that one means through which SE is related with improved performance is through enhanced task-relevant attentional control during task execution. To assess this hypothesis, we examined the relationships between SE and behavioral and neural indices of task performance and task-relevant attentional control for 76 young adults during the completion of a flanker task. Results showed that greater SE was associated with greater response accuracy and P3b amplitude across task conditions, and faster RT under more difficult task conditions. Additionally, P3b amplitude was found to mediate the relationship between SE and task performance in the difficult condition. These findings suggest that greater attentional allocation to task-relevant processes, including monitoring stimulus-response relationships and focusing attention on working memory operations, may help explain the association between SE and improved task performance.
Keywords
  • Self-efficacy (SE),
  • Event-Related Brain Potentials (ERPs),
  • Task-Relevant Attentional Control,
  • P3b
Publication Date
Spring May, 2015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12091
Publisher Statement
The British Journal of Psychology is published by the British Psychological Society. Please visit the journal homepage for more information.
Citation Information
Jason R. Themanson and Peter J. Peter J. Rosen. "Examining the Relationships Between Self-efficacy, Task-relevant Attentional Control, and Task Performance: Evidence from Event-related Brain Potentials" British Journal of Psychology Vol. 106 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 253 - 271 ISSN: 0007-1269
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jason_themanson/21/