Social Cognitive Theory and Social Cognitive Theory and Physical ActivityPhysical Activity

EPHE 348EPHE 348

Rise of Social CognitionRise of Social Cognition

History in phobia researchHistory in phobia research

Understanding ofUnderstanding of– 1) behavioural expectation 1) behavioural expectation – 2) value placed on the expectation2) value placed on the expectation– 3) the perception of capability to 3) the perception of capability to

execute the behaviourexecute the behaviour

Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura)Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura)

Mix of operant learning, social Mix of operant learning, social learning, and cognitive theorylearning, and cognitive theory

Theory postulates that behaviour, Theory postulates that behaviour, the environment, and personal the environment, and personal factors all interact continuouslyfactors all interact continuously

BehaviorBehavior(Type, Frequency, Duration, etc.)(Type, Frequency, Duration, etc.)

BehaviorBehavior(Type, Frequency, Duration, etc.)(Type, Frequency, Duration, etc.)

Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors(Group, Equipment, Facility, etc.)(Group, Equipment, Facility, etc.)Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors

(Group, Equipment, Facility, etc.)(Group, Equipment, Facility, etc.)Personal FactorsPersonal Factors

(Cognition, Attitude, Mood, etc.)(Cognition, Attitude, Mood, etc.)Personal FactorsPersonal Factors

(Cognition, Attitude, Mood, etc.)(Cognition, Attitude, Mood, etc.)

Figure 12.1

Self-EfficacySelf-EfficacyExpectanciesExpectanciesSelf-EfficacySelf-EfficacyExpectanciesExpectancies

PerformancePerformanceExperiencesExperiences

PerformancePerformanceExperiencesExperiences

CognitionCognitionCognitionCognition

VicariousVicariousExperiencesExperiencesVicariousVicarious

ExperiencesExperiences

Verbal Verbal PersuasionPersuasion

Verbal Verbal PersuasionPersuasion

PhysiologicalPhysiologicalStatesStates

PhysiologicalPhysiologicalStatesStates

EmotionalEmotionalStatesStates

EmotionalEmotionalStatesStates

BehaviorBehaviorBehaviorBehavior

Figure 12.2

Efficacy MeasurementEfficacy Measurement

General efficacyGeneral efficacy

Barrier/coping efficacyBarrier/coping efficacy

Task efficacyTask efficacy

Research FocusResearch Focus

Self-efficacy is theorized as specific Self-efficacy is theorized as specific but confidence to overcome various but confidence to overcome various barriers are usually summed to barriers are usually summed to create self-efficacy scalescreate self-efficacy scales

What if efficacy also differs by What if efficacy also differs by barrier?barrier?

Research Focus Cont…Research Focus Cont…683 Canadian adults sampled by measuring SE and PA 683 Canadian adults sampled by measuring SE and PA across three time periodsacross three time periods

Results suggested that barriers differed by mean and Results suggested that barriers differed by mean and variance (thus not interchangeable)variance (thus not interchangeable)

Individual barriers explained 7-8% more variance in PA Individual barriers explained 7-8% more variance in PA than the aggregate scalesthan the aggregate scales

Rhodes, R.E.Rhodes, R.E., Plotnikoff, R.C., & Spence, J.C. (2004). Creating parsimony , Plotnikoff, R.C., & Spence, J.C. (2004). Creating parsimony at the expense of precision? Conceptual and applied issues of at the expense of precision? Conceptual and applied issues of aggregating belief-based constructs in physical activity research. aggregating belief-based constructs in physical activity research. Health Health Education Research, 19Education Research, 19, 392-405., 392-405.

Self-efficacy and PASelf-efficacy and PA

Arguably the most validated and Arguably the most validated and consistent construct associated with consistent construct associated with PAPA

Associated with intention, mood Associated with intention, mood states, and behaviour (McAuley et al. states, and behaviour (McAuley et al. 1999)1999)

Research FocusResearch FocusSE has a remarkably wide SE has a remarkably wide measurement domainmeasurement domain

Often measured using confidence Often measured using confidence appraisalappraisal

What if people answer confidence What if people answer confidence items in terms of motivation items in terms of motivation independent of ability?independent of ability?

Research FocusResearch Focus

Several samples (adult & Several samples (adult & undergraduate) measured with undergraduate) measured with confidence items, confidence if confidence items, confidence if motivated, intention, etc.motivated, intention, etc.

Results all show that confidence Results all show that confidence items are redundant with intention items are redundant with intention unless “if I wanted to…” is includedunless “if I wanted to…” is included

Research FocusResearch FocusConfidence items have a measurement Confidence items have a measurement domain beyond SE – often measuring domain beyond SE – often measuring motivation in entiretymotivation in entirety

Rhodes, R.E.Rhodes, R.E., & Courneya, K.S. (2004). Differentiating motivation , & Courneya, K.S. (2004). Differentiating motivation and control in the theory of planned behavior. and control in the theory of planned behavior. Psychology, Health, Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 9, and Medicine, 9, 205-215205-215..

Rhodes, R.ERhodes, R.E. & Courneya, K.S. (2003). Self-efficacy, . & Courneya, K.S. (2003). Self-efficacy, controllability, and intention in the theory of planned behavior: controllability, and intention in the theory of planned behavior: Measurement redundancy or causal independence? Measurement redundancy or causal independence? Psychology Psychology and Health, 18and Health, 18, 79-91., 79-91.

Rhodes, R.ERhodes, R.E. & Blanchard, C.M. (2007). What do confidence . & Blanchard, C.M. (2007). What do confidence items measure in the physical activity domain? items measure in the physical activity domain? Journal of Applied Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37, 753-768Social Psychology, 37, 753-768..

Research FocusResearch Focus

E.g., Blanchard et al. & Rodgers et al. E.g., Blanchard et al. & Rodgers et al. (2004-2009)(2004-2009)

Task and Barrier efficacy may have Task and Barrier efficacy may have importance at different times during importance at different times during the exercise adoption and the exercise adoption and maintenance process – particularly in maintenance process – particularly in rehabilitation populationsrehabilitation populations

TaskTaskDevelop your gold standard 1) self-efficacy Develop your gold standard 1) self-efficacy enhancing program for sedentary:enhancing program for sedentary:

ChildrenChildrenAdultsAdultsOlder AdultsOlder Adults

Use the principles of efficacy building!Use the principles of efficacy building!