RUME 28
2026
Alexandria, Virginia
Mathematics Self-Efficacy in Collegiate Calculus
Page: 1279
This study examined students’ mathematics self-efficacy (MSE, students’ beliefs about their ability to successfully do mathematics) in collegiate calculus using a semi-structured interview and examining both global and local MSE. Results show students did report that calculus affected their MSE, with half reporting their MSE was lower for calculus than for previous mathematics courses though four students also reported higher MSE. Participants reported reasons for changes to their MSE included difficulty of the exams, pace of the courses, and differences in teaching style. For local MSE, participants were generally confident on the problems, reporting the highest confidence in finding a procedural derivative using the product rule and the lowest confidence on using the first derivative test. Results have implications for our knowledge of MSE, a relatively stable belief that can still change under certain conditions (Bandura, 1997; Byars-Winston, et al., 2017; Friedel et al., 2010).