Role of self-efficacy beliefs in goal commitment: a case study of the 20^th Nigerian University games chess event

Abstract

The study examined the role of self-efficacy beliefs in goal commitment among 118 Nigerian University students who represented universities that qualified from a preliminary zonal arrangement in the chess event of the 20^th Nigerian University Games. Hierarchical regression analysis results revealed that, in the second step, self-efficacy beliefs account for a significant proportion of the variance (β=.82, P<.01) in goal commitment. The significant positive impact of self-efficacy beliefs on goal commitment implies that chess players who exhibit high levels of self-efficacy beliefs are more committed to reaching a goal than those who exhibit low levels of self-efficacy. When self-efficacy beliefs was entered in the second step, R ² increased to .87 (p=.01) indicative of a significant change in R ² (∆R ² =.42, P<.01). This finding underscores the need for further research to provide a holistic empirical framework on goal commitment and performance.

South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 28(2) 2006: 113-120