Using vicarious experience and verbal persuasion to enhance self-efficacy in pre-service teachers: "Priming the pump" for consultation

This experimental study investigated whether self-efficacy perceptions pertaining to working with difficult-to-teach children could be increased for pre-service teachers using vicarious experience and verbal persuasion. Participants were randomly assigned to groups. The experimental group was shown a 33-minute videotape describing and demonstrating effective behavior-management procedures, including supportive teacher testimonials and published research. A control group watched a placebo videotape of similar length detailing society's treatment of handicapped people. Data analyses indicated that the experimental group exceeded the control group on two of four self-efficacy measures. Results are discussed in terms of how enhancing teachers' self-efficacy perceptions might be used to "prime the pump" for consultation services.