| Self-efficacy is the confidence that one has in one's ability to do things. During the past decade, self-efficacy beliefs have received increasing attention in educational research. Research has consistently shown that academic performance is often better predicted by self-efficacy than by prior attainment indexes.; By the time students reach college, pre-determined efficacy beliefs regarding their ability to solve mathematics problems have been developed. Though few efforts to improve self-efficacy beliefs have been reported in the literature, it has been noted that efforts to identify self-efficacy beliefs and alter inaccurate judgements should prove beneficial.; Four sources of self-efficacy are defined in Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory. These sources offer guidance as to how to modify self-efficacy beliefs, but do not offer specific techniques for doing so. Therefore, the researcher turned to the world of sports for the identification of such techniques. By adapting techniques from sports and sports psychology, and using the four sources of self-efficacy for guidance, the CHAMP toolkit was developed.; The purpose of this study was to train three non-traditional college mathematics students in the use of CHAMP and assess the extent to which these intervention techniques enhanced mathematical self-efficacy, as well as the extent to which these students were able to both internalize these techniques and begin to use the techniques on their own. Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews, direct observations, a focus group interview, and researcher and participant journals.; Changes in mathematical self-efficacy were noted throughout the study. These changes included: (1) changes in participation; (2) changes in preparation; and (3) changes in how each participant viewed word problems.; Three specific areas of demonstrated internalization of CHAMP were found and discussed: (1) awareness of CHAMP techniques already being used; (2) effective use of CHAMP; and (3) the ability of each participant to teach others CHAMP.; Upon internalizing CHAMP, the participants demonstrate their ability to use it on their own by applying CHAMP to a variety of other classes, both mathematics classes and non-mathematics classes, and by applying the use of CHAMP to real-life events. |
