Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Concordance rates between self-efficacy and approach behavior are redundant

  • Published:
Cognitive Therapy and Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pre- and posttreatment data from a treatment study utilizing Bandura's 18-item behavioral approach test (BAT)for fear of snakes were analyzed to assess the scalability of behavior and self-efficacy scores. Coefficients of reproducibility ranged from .97 to .99, indicating that measures of behavior and self-efficiacy on this BAT constitute valid Guttman scales. Bandura's (1980)method of calculating expected concordance rates is not valid for Guttman scales because all possible patterns of response produce observed concordance rates that are equal to or greater than expected rates it generates. The concordance rate between the items on Guttman scales are completely determined by the total score on each scale. Therefore, “microanalyses” of concordance rates between efficacy and behavior on BATs are redundant. Researchers using other dependent variable measures should determine the coefficients of reproducibility of their scales prior to reporting item-by-item concordance rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference Notes

  1. Kirsch, I., Tennen, H., Wickless, C., Saccone, A. J., & Cody, S.The role of expectancy in fear reduction. Unpublished manuscript, University of Connecticut, 1982.

  2. Bandura, A. Personal communication, 1979.

References

  1. Bandura, A. Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychological Review 1977,84 191–215.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bandura, A. Gauging the relationship between self-efficacy judgment and action.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1980,4 263–268.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bandura, A., & Adams, N. E. Analysis of self-efficacy theory of behavioral change.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1977,1 287–310.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kirsch, I. “Microanalytic” analyses of efficacy expectations as predictors of performance.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1980,4 259–262.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Nie, N. H., Bent, D. H., & Hull, C. H.Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 06268, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

    Irving Kirsch & Cynthia V. Wickless

Authors
  1. Irving Kirsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cynthia V. Wickless
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The authors wish to thank David A. Kenny and an anonymous reviewer for their extremely helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kirsch, I., Wickless, C.V. Concordance rates between self-efficacy and approach behavior are redundant. Cogn Ther Res 7, 179–188 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01190071

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01190071

Keywords

Search

Navigation