Self-efficacy in the educational field: review of the literature on Brazilian journals

Abstract

The construct of self-efficacy, or judgment made by an individual on his own ability to act in a given field, has been investigated in different areas of knowledge. However, it is still little known and widespread in the Brazilian educational context. The objective of the research was to identify the self-efficacy studies conducted in Brazilian society, its methodological clippings and main results. Fifteen items selected in the databases SciELO, LILACS and Redalyc were analyzed using the terms self-efficacy or self-efficacy in conjunction with the key words: student, student, teacher, teaching, learning and school. The results revealed that the research emphasize the areas of academic self-efficacy and teacher self-efficacy, predominantly quantitative research, using scales. It considers that research with a qualitative approach, beyond the focus of other elements of the educational context (directors, coordinators etc.) are needed to better understand the role of self-efficacy beliefs in the context investigated.

Keywords:
Self-efficacy; education; literature review.