Approaches to Improving Self-Efficacy among 8th Graders: Solution-Focused and Strategic Therapies

Approaches to Improving Self-Efficacy among 8th Graders: Solution-Focused and Strategic Therapies A. Bahraami F. Bahaari, Ph.D.  To compare the effectiveness of two approaches to improving self-efficacy, a specially selected sample of 45 eighth graders was randomly placed into three groups of control and experimental. The experimental groups were taught for ten sessions of 90 minutes each, utilizing the two approaches while the control group was taught in regular manner. Bandura’s measure of self-efficacy, with an internal consistency of 0.87, was used both before and after the five weeks of special teachings. A follow-up was also conducted a month after the sessions. Results show that both approaches can improve self-efficacy with the strategic therapy having the edge. Key words: self-efficacy, solution-focused therapy, strategic therapy, 8th graders