Stimulating educational growth through vision and self-efficacy: a case study of adult users of English as a foreign language

Arkadiusz Pietluch

University of Rzeszów, Poland

Arkadiusz Pietluch is a Ph.D. student at the University of Rzeszów, where he currently teaches subjects such as phonetics, phonology, and practical English. His areas of academic interest include bilingualism and the impact of psychological variables on human cognition.


https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8260-9001


Abstract

The present study focuses on scrutinising the congruence between the two concepts which are currently at the forefront of the motivational research, namely self-efficacy and the mental representation of a future state which, in the literature, is referred to as vision. To this very end, the first part of the paper offers a concise summary of the theoretical underpinnings behind both constructs. The latter sections of the examination are exploratory and interpretative in their nature and are dedicated to the empirical analysis of the correlation between vision and the sense of personal agency as well as the discussion of the answers stemming from the semi-structured interviews employed for the purpose of the study. The outcomes of the investigation provide satisfactory evidence to account for the presence of a reciprocal interaction between the adopted variables and prompt various noteworthy implications, for example, the positive impact of the notions on inducing a long-term, motivated action, the ability of vision to substitute efficacy beliefs in the initial stages of agency growth, and the stimulating influence of pre-experiencing emotional arousal related to a future state on a student’s language proficiency. This, in turn, creates an opportunity for inspiring the motivational gain in a variety of settings, including a foreign language classroom.

Keywords:

self-efficacy, vision, motivation in an L2 context, performance, behavioural issues, linguistic proficiency

Allen, E. & Seaman, C. 2007. Likert scales and data analyses. Quality Progress 40: 64-65.

Ansong, D., Eisensmith, S., Okumu, M. & Chowa, G. 2019. The importance of self-efficacy and educational aspirations for academic achievement in resource-limited countries. Journal of Adolescence 70: 13-23.

Artino, A. R. 2012. Academic self-efficacy: from educational theory to instructional practice. Perspectives on Medical Education 2: 76-85.

Bandura, A. 1988. Self-efficacy conception of anxiety. Anxiety Research 1: 77-98.

Bandura, A. 1994. Self-efficacy. In: V. S. Ramachaudran (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Human Behaviour, 71-81. New York: Academic Press.

Bandura, A. 1997. Self-efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York: Freeman.

Bandura, A. & Locke, E. A. 2003. Negative self-efficacy and goal effects revisited. Journal of Applied Psychology 88: 87-99.

Betz, N. E. & Voyten, K. 1997. Efficacy and outcome expectations influence career exploration and decidedness. Career Development Quarterly 46: 179-189.

Burke, A., Shanahnan, C. & Herlambang. E. 2014. An exploratory study comparing goaloriented mental imagery with daily to-do lists: Supporting college students success. Current Psychology 33: 20-34.

Carroll, A., Houghton, S., Wood, R., Unsworth, K., Hattie, J., Gordon, L. & Bower, J. 2009. Self-efficacy and academic achievement in Australian high school students: The mediating effects of academic aspirations and delinquency. Journal of Adolescence 32: 797-817.

Cox, R. H. 2012. Sports Psychology: Concepts and Applications. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Creed, P. A., Prideaux, L.-A. 2001. Career maturity, career decision-making self-efficacy and career indecision: A review of the accrued evidence. Australian Journal of Career Development 10: 7-12.

Damasio, A. R., Tranel, D. & Damasio, H. C. 1991. Somatic markers and the guidance of behaviour: Theory and preliminary testing. In: H. S. Levin, H. M. Eisenberg & A. L. Benton (eds.), Frontal Lobe Function and Dysfunction, 217-229. New York: Oxford University Press.

Domenech-Betoret, F., Abellan-Rosello, L. & Gomez-Artiga, A. 2017. Self-efficacy, satisfaction, and academic achievement: The mediator role of students’ expectancy-value beliefs. Frontiers in Psychology 8: 1180-1193.

Dörnyei, Z. 2000. Motivation in action: Towards a process-oriented conceptualisation of student motivation. British Journal of Educational Psychology 70: 519-538.

Dörnyei, Z. 2014. Future self-guides and vision. In: K. Csizer & M. Magid (eds.), The Impact of Self-Concept on Language Learning, 7-18. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

Dörnyei, Z. & Ushioda, E. 2009. Motivation, Language Identity and the L2 Self. Buffalo: Multilingual Matters.

Dörnyei, Z. & Kubanyiova, M. 2014. Motivating Learners, Motivating Teachers: Building Vision in the Language Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dörnyei, Z., Muir, C. & Ibrahim, Z. 2014. Directed Motivational Currents: Energising language learning through creating intense motivational pathways. In: D. Lasagbaster, A. Doiz & J. M. Sierra (eds.), Motivation and Foreign Language Learning, 9-29. Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Dörnyei, Z., Henry, A. & Muir, C. 2016. Motivational Currents in Language Learning: Frameworks for Focused Interventions. New York: Routledge.

Ghanizadeh, A. & Jahedizadeh, S. 2015. De-motivators and their association with burnout and language achievement in an Iranian EFL context. Journal of Teaching Language Skills 7: 61-85.

Hattie, J. & Timperley, H. 2007. The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research 77: 81-112.

Henry, A., Davydenko, S. & Dörnyei, Z. 2015. The anatomy of Directed Motivational Currents: Exploring intense and enduring periods of L2 motivation. The Modern Language Journal 99: 329-345.

Holmes, E. A., Blackwell, S. E., Burnett Heyes, S., Renner, F. & Raes, F. 2016. Mental imagery in depression: Phenomenology, potential mechanisms, and treatment implications. The Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 12: 249-280.

Kosslyn, S. M., Thompson, W. L. & Ganis, G. 2006. The Case for Mental Imagery. New York: Oxford University Press.

Lane, J. & Lane, A. M. 2001. Self-efficacy and academic performance. Social Behaviour and Personality. An International Journal 29: 687-693.

Markus, H. & Nurius, P. 1986. Possible selves. American Psychologist 45: 954-969.

Martin, A. J., Colmar, S. H., Davey, L. A. & Marsh, H. 2010. Longitudinal modelling of academic buoyancy and motivation: Do the 5Cs hold up over time? British Journal of Educational Psychology 80: 473-496.

Meral, M., Colak, E. & Zereyak, E. 2012. The Relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences 46: 1143-1146.

Mun, Y. & Hwang, Y. 2003. Predicting the use of web-based information systems: selfefficacy, enjoyment, learning goal orientation, and the technology acceptance model. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 59: 431-449.

Muir, C. 2016. The dynamics of intense long-term motivation in language learning: Directed Motivational Currents in theory and practice. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

Muir, C. & Dörnyei, Z. 2013. Directed Motivational Currents: Using vision to create effective motivational pathways. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching 3: 357-375.

Muris, P. 2002. Relationships between self-efficacy and symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression in normal adolescent sample. Personality and Individual Differences 32: 337-348.

Navarro, J. & Carlos, A. 2010. Chaos in human behaviour: The case of work motivation. The Spanish Journal of Psychology 13: 244-256.

Pajares, F. 1996. Self-efficacy beliefs in academic settings. Review of Educational Research 66: 543-578.

Pajares, F. 1997. Current directions in self-efficacy research. In: M. Maehr & P. Pintrich (eds.), Advances in Motivation and Achievement, 1-49. Greenwich: JAI Press.

Pietluch, A. 2018. Extraordinary motivation or a high sense of personal agency: The role of self-efficacy in the Directed Motivational Currents theory. New Horizons in English Studies 3: 45-56.

Reddan, G. 2015. Enhancing student’s self-efficacy in making positive career decisions. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education 16: 291-300.

Renner, F., Murphy, F. C., Ji, J. L., Manly, T. & Holmes, E. A. 2019. Mental imagery as a “motivational amplifier” to promote activities. Behaviour Research and Therapy 114: 51-59.

Sagone, E. & De Caroli, M. E. 2014. Resilience and psychological well-being: Differences for affective profiles in Italian middle and late adolescents. Revista INFAD de Psicologia 1: 149-160.

Schwarzer, R. & Jerusalem, M. 1995. Generalized self-efficacy scale. In: J. Weinman, S. Wright & M. Johnston (eds.), Measures in Health Psychology: A User’s Portfolio. Casual And Control Beliefs, 35-37. Windsor: NFER-NELSON.

Schwarzer, R. & Warner, L. M. 2013. Perceived self-efficacy and its relation to resilience. In: S. Prince-Embury & D. H. Saklofske (eds.), Resilience in Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Translating research into practice, 139-150. New York: Springer.

Sewell, A. & St George, A. 2000. Developing efficacy beliefs in the classroom. Journal of Educational Enquiry 2: 58-71.

Taylor, H. & Reyes, H. 2012. Self-Efficacy and resilience in Baccalaureate nursing students. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship 9: 1-13.

Turner, J. & Patrick, H. 2008. How does motivation develop and why does it change? Reframing motivation research. Educational Psychologist 43: 119-131.

Usher, E. L. & Pajares, F. 2008. Sources of self-efficacy in school: Critical review of the literature and future directions. Review of Educational Research 78: 751-796.

Vancouver, J. B. & Kendall, L. N. 2006. When self-efficacy negatively relates to motivation and performance in learning context. Journal of Applied Psychology 91: 1146-1153.

van der Bijl, J. J. & Shortridge-Baggett, L. M. 2001. The theory and measurement of the self-efficacy construct. Scholarly inquiry for nursing practice 3: 189-207.

van der Helm, R. 2009. The vision phenomenon: Towards a theoretical underpinning of visions of the future and the process of envisioning. FUTURES 4: 96-104.

Vasquez, N. A. & Buehler, R. 2007. Seeing future success: Does imagery perspective influence achievement motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 33(10): 1392-1405.

Wise, J. B. & Trunnell, E. P. 2001. The influence of sources of self-efficacy upon efficacy strength. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 23: 268-280.

Yokoyama, S. 2019. Academic self-efficacy and academic performance in online learning: A Mini Review. Frontiers in Psychology 9: 23-41.

Zajacova, A, Lynch, S. M. & Espenshade, T. J. 2005. Self-efficacy, stress, and academic success in college. Research in Higher Education 46: 677-706.

Download

Published
2019-12-30


Pietluch, A. (2019) “Stimulating educational growth through vision and self-efficacy: a case study of adult users of English as a foreign language”, Crossroads. A Journal of English Studies, (27), pp. 58–76. doi: 10.15290/cr.2019.27.4.04.

Arkadiusz Pietluch 
University of Rzeszów, Poland

Arkadiusz Pietluch is a Ph.D. student at the University of Rzeszów, where he currently teaches subjects such as phonetics, phonology, and practical English. His areas of academic interest include bilingualism and the impact of psychological variables on human cognition.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8260-9001