Assessments » Physics Self-Efficacy Questionnaire
Physics Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)

Developed by Christine Lindstrøm and Manjula Sharma

Purpose To measure students’ self-efficacy in their physics course.
Format Pre/post, Agree/disagree
Duration 5 min
Focus Beliefs / Attitudes (self-efficacy)
Level Intro college

Sample statements from the PSEQ:

I generally manage to solve difficult physics problems if I try hard enough

Strongly Disagree 1  2  3  4  5  Strongly Agree 


I know I can stick to my aims and accomplish my goals in physics

Strongly Disagree 1  2  3  4  5  Strongly Agree 

 

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PSEQ Implementation Guide

Everything you need to know about implementing the PSEQ in your class.

C. Lindstrøm and M. Sharma, Self-Efficacy of First Year University Physics Students: Do Gender and Prior Formal Instruction in Physics Matter?, Int. J. Innov. Sci. Math. Educ. 19 (2), 1 (2011).
RESEARCH VALIDATION
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Bronze Validation
This is the third highest level of research validation, corresponding to at least 3 of the validation categories below.

Research Validation Summary

Based on Research Into:

  • Student thinking

Studied Using:

  • Student interviews
  • Expert review
  • Appropriate statistical analysis

Research Conducted:

  • At multiple institutions
  • By multiple research groups
  • Peer-reviewed publication

Most of the Likert-scale questions on the PSEQ are modified versions of questions from the General Self- Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer, 1993), while one PSEQ question was written by the developers. The five questions underwent expert review, and were revised. The PSEQ was then given to over 100 introductory physics students and appropriate analysis of reliability and validity were conducted. Further, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted which found that the five questions on the PSEQ make up one factor, as intended by the developers. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis to further check the validity and reliability of the PSEQ was conducted with data from over 350 introductory physics students. The PSEQ was then given to introductory physics students four times over a year, and a consistent factor structure was again found. The PSEQ has been given to over 500 introductory physics students at one Australian university, and the results published in one peer-reviewed publication.

References

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Typical Results

Typical scores on the PSEQ from Lindstrøm and Manjula, 2011:

The latest version of the PSEQ, released in 2011, is version 1.