Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between preschooler's efficacy predictions and causal attributions, to examine whether their efficacy predictions in achievement situations reflected their confidence about capabilities of task performance. Subjects consisted of 39 boys and 29 girls, 5 and 6 years old(M=5 years and 11 months). Measures about three variables representing efficacy determinants were administered. Those measured were predictions of outcome, confidence in that prediction, and competence in task performance. Following the performance outcome, preschoolers were asked to indicate on a 4-point scale their perceptions of how well they had performed the task. Results indicated that preschooler's efficacy predictions were found to be significantly related to causal attributions. High efficacious preschoolers tended to make stable and controllable attributions for their success, whereas low efficacious preschoolers contributed their success to variable factors. Self-efficacy cognition was also significantly related to self-evaluation perceptions of performance success. Children who perceived their success and personal accomplishments as being due to their own efficacy predictions appeared likely to perceive their performance as being relatively invariant over time and under their personal control. These results constitute some evidence that preschooler's efficacy predictions play on important role in shaping their causal attributions.