Abstract
This study offers one set of solutions to the conceptual and methodological problems that arise from extending Bandura's concept of self-efficacy to the area of social skills. A sample of 115 undergraduate psychology students completed the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Social Skills (SEQSS), developed for this study, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Social Avoidance and Distress (SAD) scale, and a questionnaire developed by Bandura for assessing efficacy expectations for being in groups. Half the subjects were retested in 1 week. The other half of the subjects were used to demonstrate predictive validity. Good internal consistency (coefficient alpha) and test-retest reliability were found. Significant predictive validity was found. Some construct validity for the questionnaire developed was provided by significant correlations with “Bandura's questionnaire” and with the SAD. Some relationships were found between depression and efficacy expectations; however, they seem primarily mediated by social anxiety. While the questionnaire developed needs more validity data, it is acceptable for basic research on social skills. It may also prove helpful in developing social skills training programs.
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This research was originally done as a master's thesis by the first author. We wish to thank Drs. Manuel Barrera and Laurie Chassin for their careful reading of and helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.
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Moe, K.O., Zeiss, A.M. Measuring Self-Efficacy expectations for Social Skills: A methodological inquiry. Cogn Ther Res 6, 191–205 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183892
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183892