A auto-eficácia para a aprendizagem autodirigida como pilar fundamental da educação e aprendizagem ao longo da vida: Continuação dos estudos de validação do Self-Efficacy for Self-Directed Learning Questionnaire

Abstract

This article presents the results of the validation studies of the Self-Efficacy for Self-Directed Learning Questionnaire for the Portuguese adult population. The instrument has been showing good psychometric properties in diversified samples, with its reliability and validity being established at a very good level as in the original American studies. Portuguese investigations have covered university students (freshman, advanced undergraduate, master and doctoral levels) and adults obtaining high school certificate by a process of recognition and validation of prior and experiential learning. Taking into account the high convergence of the results of the studies reviewed, concerning the Self-Efficacy for Self-Directed Learning Questionnaire, the instrument could be considered as a good measure of adults’ self-efficacy for self-direction in learning, being particularly useful for research in the light of the new paradigm of lifelong education and learning. Additionally, it has been tested the hypothesis that the self-efficacy for self-directed learning of the university students is different from the self-efficacy of those adults who have obtained their high school certificates by the process of recognition and validation of prior learning. The obtained results were statistically significant, on behalf of adult learners.