| This study will explore how science self-efficacy among college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in Nigeria predicts their innovation. Several reports on African development argue that science, technology and innovation underpin targets for dramatically reducing poverty in its many dimensions---income poverty, hunger, disease, exclusion, lack of infrastructure and shelter---while promoting gender equality, education, health, and environmental sustainability (UN Millennium Project, 2005). If African countries in general, including Nigeria, are to move from the exploitation of natural resources to technological innovation as the foundation for development, stakeholders in these countries must encourage development of individual ability to innovate products, services and work processes in crucial organizations (DeJong & DenHartog, 2010).;The common denominator in the scientific and technological development of any country or organization is the individuals that make up these entities. An individual's engagement is the foundation for group motivation, innovation and improvement. These ideas inform the purpose of this study: to investigate how science self-efficacy among college students in various engineering fields in Nigeria predicts self-reported innovative behavior (IB), also referred to as Innovative Work Behavior (IWB). IB involves initiating new and useful ideas, processes, products or procedures, as well as the process of implementing these ideas (Farr & Ford, 1990; Scott & Bruce, 1994).;The general findings of this study align with the dictates of social cognitive theory. Specifically, research indicates self-efficacy has the most predictive power for performance when it is measured at a level specific to the expected task (Bandura, 1997; Pajares, 1996). The findings from the hierarchical multiple regressions confirm that individuals' perceived science efficacy plays an important role in their perceived self-reported innovative behavior as it pertains to science and technological advancement.;This dissertation contains five major chapters. The introduction (Chapter 1) makes a case for the significance of the scientific and technological problems facing Nigeria and African in general. The literature review (Chapter 2) examines the conceptualization and research that highlight the cognitive and behavioral processes present in individuals who are innovative and have a sense of self-efficacy in science. The methodology (Chapter 3) describes in detail the methodology that was used for the study, specifically, the participants, procedures, measures used, and analyses. The results (Chapter 4) present the outcome of the analyses with respect to the research questions. Finally, the discussion (Chapter 5) interprets the results from this study, integrating and analyzing the research findings in relation to other literature, as well as reflecting on the implications and limitations of the study. |
