Distinguishing Between Perceived Behavioral Control and Self‐Efficacy in the Domain of Academic Achievement Intentions and Behaviors

We examined whether perceived behavioral control (PBC) and self‐efficacy (S‐E) can be distinguished empirically, and whether they make different contributions to the prediction of intentions and behavior. The behavioral criterion was performance in 3 high‐school examinations. Measures of attitude, subjective norm, PBC, S‐E, and intention were taken before the examinations. Grade achieved served as the behavioral measure. Factor analysis of items intended to measure PBC and S‐E extracted 2 factors: confidence in ability to achieve the behavioral outcome, and belief that the outcome can be influenced by own efforts. Scores on these factors were labeled S‐E and perceived control, respectively. Behavior was predicted better by S‐E than by intentions, and intentions were more closely related to S‐E than to attitudes, subjective norms, or perceived control.