Self-efficacy and self-concept as predictors of college students' academic performance - Research Paper Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade (25, 08, Critical Review of the Methodology IntroductionThe paper under review is dealing with the effect of self efficacy and self concept on the academic performance of students. The aim of the study is to find how accurately different levels of self concept and self efficacy predict academic performance. The methodology used is the quantitative method of research and data collection instrument used is questionnaire. We will here provide a critical review of methodology used in the research.

Methodology: Critical Review The aim of the research was to find whether self efficacy and self concept have an impact on academic performance. The effect was measured through differing level of self concept and self efficacy. Different questionnaires were used to collect data regarding different levels of self concept and self efficacy. The nature of study is quantitative and this is justified to a greater extent because the focus of the study is extremely narrow. The concept of self efficacy and self concepts cannot be measured through qualitative methods of research.

Qualitative methods of research may also not generalize the results over a larger portion of population. The sample will be small when qualitative methods will be used therefore results will not be better representative of the population. The use of quantitative method solves this problem because it is easier to collect and interpret data. The use of questionnaires is also appropriate for the study because researchers were interested in answering a specific question. Questionnaires are usually helpful because they can be distributed over a wide range of participants.

A large sample can be a better predictor of the results and can be generalized over a large population. Questionnaire also allows researchers to inquire participants with a variety of questions. In an interview or any other method it would have been difficult for researchers to include too many questions but in questionnaires it is possible. Also questionnaire method is a cost effective method to use in comparison with other methods. The use of questionnaires also gives legitimacy to the study because the used questionnaires were designed by well known researchers.

The questionnaires were also used by other researchers for data collection therefore questionnaires added reliability to the study. The use of authentic data collection methods also ensure that the study was an academic level study conducted on a wider scale. LimitationsThere were although certain limitations of the methods used in the study. At first the sample was not geographically distributed. Sample was selected from only a single university of a single region therefore the effect of culture was not measured in the study.

Family background is another important factor that influences self efficacy and self concepts, and it was also ignored in the study.An alternative method could have been a meta-analysis of the previous conducted studies. This would provide the study a greater level of legitimacy and the results could have been applicable to a wider population. Previously conducted studies would also have eliminated the factor of geographical limit. Works Cited PageChoi, Namok. Self Efficacy and Self concept as a predictor of college students’ academic performance, Psychology in Schools, 42(2): 197-204, (2005)