What role does self-efficacy play in literacy development?

Self-efficacy significantly influences a student's confidence in their reading abilities and their willingness to engage with texts. When students believe they can succeed in reading, they are more likely to take on challenging texts, persist through difficulties, and actively participate in literacy activities. This belief in their capabilities can enhance motivation, leading them to practice more and seek out opportunities to read, which ultimately contributes to better literacy development.

Self-efficacy fosters a positive cycle where increased engagement in reading builds further skills and confidence. For instance, a student who feels competent in reading is likely to tackle more complex materials, which leads to improvement and reinforcement of their self-efficacy. This concept aligns with Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, which suggests that people's belief in their own effectiveness can significantly influence their actions and achievements.

In contrast, other options fail to capture the essential connection between self-efficacy and literacy. Minimizing the impact of teaching methods overlooks the role that positive reinforcement from supportive instruction can play. Suggesting that self-efficacy is unrelated to academic performance dismisses the widespread research that highlights its importance across various domains. Finally, claiming that it solely affects social interactions misrepresents the broad implications of self-efficacy as it pertains to cognitive and