A Social Cognitive Investigation in the Context of Vocational Training Performance of People with Disabilities

Authors: Majid A. AlSayari

Abstract:

The study reported here investigated social cognitive theory (SCT) in the context of Vocational Rehab (VR) for people with disabilities. The prime purpose was to increase knowledge of VR phenomena and make recommendations for improving VR services. The sample consisted of 242 persons with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) who completed questionnaires. A further 32 participants were Trainers. Analysis of questionnaire data was carried out using factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, and thematic analysis. The analysis suggested that, in motivational terms, and consistent with research carried out in other academic contexts, self-efficacy was the best predictor of VR performance. The author concludes that that VR self-efficacy predicted VR training performance.

Keywords: Social cognitive theory, vocational rehab, self-efficacy, proxy efficacy, people with disabilities.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1474799

References:

[1] Verhoef, J., Roebroeck, M., Schaardenburgh, N., Floothuis, M., & Miedema, H. (2014). Improved occupational performance of young adults with a physical disability after a vocational rehabilitation intervention. Journal Of Occupational Rehabilitation, 24, 42-51.
[2] Holmes, J. (2007). Vocational rehabilitation. Oxford; Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2007.
[3] Dutta, A., Gervey, R., Chan, F., Chou, C., & Ditchman, N. (2008). Vocational rehabilitation services and employment outcomes for people with disabilities: A united states study. Occupational rehabilitation, 18, 1-9.
[4] Meade, M. A., Armstrong, A. J., Barrett, K., Ellenbogen, P. S., & Jackson, M. N. (2006). Vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with spinal cord injury. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 23, 3-11.
[5] Mpofu, E., Craig, A., Millington, M., Murphy, G., & Dorstyn, D. (2015). Return to work practices and research with spinal cord injury: An Australian perspective. Australian Journal Of Rehabilitation Counselling, 21, 65-76.
[6] Crowther, R., Marshall, M., Bond, G. R., & Huxley, P. (2010). Vocational rehabilitation for people with severe mental illness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003080.
[7] Dutta, A., Gervey, R., Chan, F., Chou, C., & Ditchman, N. (2008). Vocational rehabilitation services and employment outcomes for people with disabilities: A united states study. Occupational rehabilitation, 18, 1-9.
[8] Gobelet, C., Luthi, F., Al-Khodairy, A. T., & Chamberlain, M. A. (2007). Vocational rehabilitation: A multidisciplinary intervention. Disability and Rehabilitation, 29, 1405-1410. doi:10.1080/09638280701315060 Gochman, D. (1997). Handbook of health behavior research: personal and social determinants. New York: Plenum Press.
[9] Issa, A. N. (2013). The Perspective of parents and teachers about appropriate jobs for some categories of disabilities and the obstacles of getting a job. Life Science Journal, 10, 2165-2172.
[10] Polidano, C., & Mavromaras, K. (2011). Participation in and completion of vocational education and training for people with disability. Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series, Working Paper No. 8/10.
[11] Bray, S. R., & Cowan, H. (2004). Proxy efficacy: Implications for self- efficacy and exercise intentions in cardiac rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Psychology, 49, 71–75.
[12] Peterson, J. J., Lowe, J. B., Andrew Peterson, N., Nothwehr, F. K., Janz, K. F., & Lobas, J. G. (2008). Paths to leisure physical activity among adults with intellectual disabilities: self-efficacy and social support. American Journal of Health Promotion, 23, 35-42.
[13] Middleton, J. W., Johnston, D., Murphy, G., Ramakrishnan, K., Savage, N., Harper, R., & ... Cameron, I. D. (2015). Early access to vocational rehabilitation for spinal cord injury inpatients. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 47, 626-631 6p. doi:10.2340/16501977-1980.
[14] Krieshok, T. S., Ulven, J. C., Hecox, J. L., & Wettersten, K. (2000). Resume therapy and vocational test feedback: tailoring interventions to self-efficacy outcomes. Journal of Career Assessment, 8, 267-281.
[15] Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
[16] Miller, R., & McDaniel, E. A. (1989). Enhancing teacher efficacy in special education through the assessment of student performance. Academic Therapy, 25, 171-81.
[17] Horn, W., Yoels, W., Wallace, D., Macrina, D., & Wrigley, M. (1998). Determinants of self-efficacy among persons with spinal cord injuries. Disability & Rehabilitation, 20, 138-141 4p.
[18] Aljadid, M. (2013). Disability in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 34(5), 453-460. Retrieved from http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiekbOf3rrLAhUS7GMKHWs1D40QFggbMAA&url=http://www.smj.org.sa/index.php/smj/ article/download/712/518&usg=AFQjCNGOzZHdmibxd_ClT4-aZ3QXvZeJnA.
[19] Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191–215.
[20] Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American Psychologist, 44(9), 1175-1184. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.44.9.1175.
[21] Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
[22] Bandura, A., & Locke, E. A. (2003). Negative self-efficacy and goal effects revisited. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 87-99.
[23] McPherson, G. E., & McCormick, J. (2006). Self-efficacy and music performance. Psychology of Music, 34, 322–336. doi:10.1177/0305735606064841.
[24] O’Sullivan, D., & Strauser, D. R. (2009). Operationalizing self-efficacy, related social cognitive variables, and moderating effects. Implications for Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 52, 251-258.