Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Autoeficacia para el rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios / Psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Academic Performance in university students

RESUMEN

Resumen La Teoría Social Cognitiva reconoce a la autoeficacia en el marco de las creencias personales que permiten a las personas ejercer cierto control sobre su comportamiento, y es de particular relevancia en relación con la vida universitaria y el rendimiento académico. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión abreviada de la Escala de Autoeficacia para el Rendimiento Académico en universitarios adaptada por Krumm y Lemos (2012). El estudio que se presenta fue de índole instrumental, con un diseño transversal, no experimental y se utilizó un muestreo no probabilístico incidental. Participaron 1044 estudiantes universitarios residentes todos en Formosa capital al momento del estudio. La edad media de los participantes fue de 26 años (DE = 7.125), de los cuales un 24.9 % de hombres (n = 260) y un 75.1 % de mujeres (n = 784). Según la técnica de ecuaciones estructurales, se efectuó el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) sobre la versión original de la escala (Modelo 1), y se realizaron dos reespecificaciones que generaron dos modelos el Modelo 2 definido como una escala unidimensional con 24 ítems y el Modelo 3 o versión breve, definido a partir de una escala unidimensional con nueve ítems. La solución final obtuvo índices de ajuste óptimos (RMSEA = .019; TL I = .999; CFI = .998 y GFI = .997) y confirma que la propuesta de una versión breve de la Escala de Autoeficacia para el Rendimiento Académico presenta adecuadas propiedades psicométricas y posibilita la evaluación de la autoeficacia académica en estudiantes universitarios de manera práctica, por lo que resulta particularmente útil en contextos de investigación.

ABSTRACT

Abstract The Social Cognitive Theory recognizes Self-efficacy within the framework of personal beliefs that allow people to exercise some control over their behavior, being of particular relevance in relation to university life and Academic Performance. University life poses not only cognitive challenges but also emotional and social challenges that involve the development and mobilization of personal resources to adapt to the demands of higher education. Self-efficacy linked to Academic Performance in this context can be a factor that favors learning in the case of perceived adequately capable, or it can be a factor that contributes to shelling or abandonment in the case of not being adequately experienced. Given its importance, the conceptualization of the concept of Self-efficacy has made possible the design of various scales that allow evaluating this construct, some oriented to the evaluation of General Self-efficacy and others to Self-efficacy in relation to specific aspects. However, given the complexity of the concept and the factors that influence its configuration, it is considered necessary to research and develop specific instruments related to the transit through university life with all the demands that it entails and that allow a deeper understanding of this particular training stage. The present work aimed to study the psychometric properties of the abbreviated version of the Self-efficacy Scale for Academic Performance in university students adapted by Krumm and Lemos (2012). The study presented was instrumental in nature, with a cross-sectional, non-experimental design, an incidental non-probabilistic sampling was used. 1044 university students, all residing in Formosa Capital at the time of the study, participated. The mean age of the participants was 26 years (SD = 7.125), being 24.9% men (n = 260) and 75.1 % women (n = 784). The original Scale consisted of 24 items and three subscales (1) coping with negative physical and emotional states; (2) social relationships; and (3) coping with positive emotions. The following reliability indices were reported for each subscale Cronbach's Alpha of .59, .69 and .55 respectively. Considering the technique of structural equations, the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out on the original version of the Scale (Model 1), carrying out two re-specifications, which generated two models, Model 2 defined as a one-dimensional Scale with 24 items and Model 3 or short version, defined from a one-dimensional scale with 9 items. The results obtained show that the three dimensions proposed in the original scale did not emerge as such, since the items that made it up presented differences in grouping by factor. The final solution or short version obtained optimal fit indices (RMSEA = .019; TL I = .999; CFI = .998 and GFI = .997). Regarding reliability, the Omega coefficient showed a high internal consistency of the scale both for the original test and for the abbreviated version, indicating that, despite having reduced the number of items on the scale, it retains adequate reliability. From the results obtained, it is confirmed that the proposal of a short version of the Self-efficacy Scale for Academic Performance presents adequate psychometric properties and enables the evaluation of academic self-efficacy in university students in a practical way, which is why it is particularly useful in research contexts.