Bandura's four self-efficacy building experiences framework¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article organizes its synthesis around Bandura's four experiences critical to developing self-efficacy: mastery experiences (successfully accomplishing a task), vicarious experiences (observing another succeed), social persuasion (encouragement or feedback), and physiological and emotional states. The authors state that "Bandura conceptualized four experiences critical to the development of an individual's self-efficacy, and therefore behavior," with mastery experiences identified as the most powerful and vicarious experiences second strongest. They apply this framework to agriculture teacher development, mapping each experience to examples such as student teaching, observing peers teach, and cooperating teacher feedback.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Experiences must be perceived as positive by the individual to build self-efficacy

Constraints¶

• Physiological and emotional states have not been measured in agricultural education research because the construct "does not lend itself to measurement on a survey instrument"

Target Learners¶

• preservice agriculture teachers
• early career agriculture teachers

Target Learning Objectives¶

• development of teaching self-efficacy
• career persistence in teaching

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Self-Efficacy Theory
• Social Learning Theory
• Bandura's four sources of self-efficacy as a framework for educator practice with marginalised students
• Four-domain SEL construct framework: growth mindset, self-efficacy, social awareness, and self-management

Examples¶

• Sequence teacher development so vicarious experiences come before mastery experiences
• Design intervention programs building academic self-efficacy (vicarious learning, progressive mastery, positive feedback) before and alongside AI integration for students with motor disabilities
• Classroom strategies for developing student psycho-social supports and academic mindsets

Key Sources¶

• McKim, A. J., & Velez, J. J. (2016). An Evaluation of the Self-Efficacy Theory in Agricultural Education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 57(1), 73-90. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2016.01073