An analysis of the relationship between self-efficacy and performance in a continuous educational gymnastics routine

Abstract

Research has consistently shown a moderate, positive correlation between efficacy and sport performance (Moritz, Feltz, Fahrbach, & Mack, 2000). This relationship has been shown to be reciprocal over seasons (e.g., Myers, Payment, & Feltz, 2004), and across trials (e.g., Feltz, 1982). The purpose of the present study was to examine the self-efficacy-performance relationship within one continuous routine. Forty-seven undergraduate students (27 male, 20 female) performed a gymnastic routine while using a self-efficacy scale following a 9-week educational gymnastics course. A path analysis revealed that self-efficacy was not a significant predictor of performance, nor was performance a significant predictor of self-efficacy. However, previous performance was a significant predictor of subsequent performance (p < .01; ?s ranged from .517 to .679). These findings are consistent with previous research suggesting that past performance is a stronger predictor of future performance than self-efficacy (Feltz, 1982; Feltz & Mugno, 1983). Self-efficacy may not be a significant predictor of performance due to performance barriers which prevents efficacy from operating as a causal influence (Feltz, 1982), or self-efficacy may be embedded in previous performance which could inflate past performance scores (Feltz, Chow, & Hepler, 2008). Future studies will address limitations in protocol when studying self-efficacy and performance within continuous trials.