Determining the Academic Self-Efficacy of Health Services Vocational School Students Taking Physiology Course
Öz
Aim: The study aimed to determine the academic self-efficacy (ASE) levels of students enrolled in the Health Services Vocational School (HSVS) taking the mandatory Physiology course. Given the foundational importance of physiology to the health professions, understanding students’ self-belief in mastering this complex subject is critical for educational interventions. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 245 volunteer students (out of a population of 312). Data were collected via the Descriptive Characteristics Form and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASE) (33 items, three dimensions; min: 33, max: 165), which was adapted into Turkish by Ekici (2012). The reliability coefficient (Cronbach’s Alpha) for the overall scale in this study was high (0.88). Data analysis used descriptive statistics, an Independent Samples t-test, and a One-way ANOVA. Results: The mean ASE total score was 89.90±17.58, indicating a moderate level, slightly below the theoretical midpoint of99.Students demonstrated high self-efficacy in basic learning (90.2% believed they could learn key concepts), but confidencewas lower for complex tasks (53.9% felt partially sufficient to explain complex processes). Crucially, ANOVA revealedstatistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in ASE scores across students’ programs, class attendance, average weekly studytime, confidence in using study strategies, and belief in recovery from failure. The most significant finding was the strongcorrelation between self-efficacy and active learning behaviors. Conclusion: HSVS students exhibited a moderate level of ASE, with higher confidence in basic knowledge acquisition but lower confidence in applying complex physiological concepts and problem-solving. Educators should implement problem-based learning methods to boost self-efficacy regarding complex skills. The strong link between ASE and study behaviors suggests that fostering effective learning strategies is paramount for enhancing.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE), Health Services Vocational School, Physiology Course, Vocational Education.
Kaynakça
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