The Effect of Cooperative Education on Change in Self-Efficacy Among Undergraduate Students: Introducing Work Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study examines the effect of cooperative education, controlling for contextual support and demographic characteristics, on three dimensions of self-efficacy change: work, career, and academic. Of the three forms of self-efficacy, work self-efficacy was found to be the one efficacy form impacted by cooperative education. Since self-efficacy is shaped by performance accomplishments, student success in their co-op jobs appears to enhance their confidence in performing a variety of behaviors that are particular to handling the requirements of the workplace. Change in work self-efficacy was also affected by change in students’ confidence in their career orientation. This study claims to open up the so-called “black box of co-op” to articulate the practices and behaviors of cooperative education that shape its contribution to the undergraduate experience.

Keywords: work self-efficacy, cooperative education, internships, contextual support, career self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, placement quality

JEL Classification: I20, I21, J24, M12, M53