Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Academic Buoyancy among Form Three Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

The study explored the relationship between selfefficacy and academic buoyancy among form three students in Migori County. A mixed methods design was adopted for the study. The sample comprised 252 girls and 217 boys drawn from both public and private schools within the County. A student questionnaire and an interview schedule were used to collect data from the participants. Data on students’ academic achievement was collected through document analysis of their past academic records. Analyses of the obtained data were done using both descriptive and inferential analysis. The study revealed that more students were on the high level of self-efficacy (59.1%) and more students had a moderate (39.1%) level of academic buoyancy. It was further revealed that self-efficacy predicted students’ academic buoyancy and additionally, that there was no significant gender difference among the participants in both constructs. The study recommended that stakeholders employ interventions aimed at bolstering students’ level of self-efficacy, since it is amenable to change, in order to improve academic buoyancy.