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University of Denver

Self-Efficacy and Racial Identity for Undergraduate Music Majors

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Students’ identities can impact their self-efficacy, or their confidence in their ability to succeed in producing a desired outcome (Bandura, 1997; Klassen, 2004a; Klassen 2004b; Oettingen, 1995; Usher & Pajares, 2008); however, little peer-reviewed research explores the relationship between racial identity and self-efficacy for undergraduate music majors. In the United States, undergraduate music students of color often navigate educational experiences where they do not find their identities represented in the curricula (Ewell, 2020), their faculty (Higher Education Arts Data Services [HEADS], 2020), or their fellow students (HEADS, 2020).</p> <p>This convergent mixed methods study utilized the theoretical framework of critical race theory to explore self-perceptions of self-efficacy by undergraduate music majors of different racial identities. Mann-Whitney <em>U</em> tests found that mean rank self-efficacy scores for students of color were higher than White students on 10 out of 11 items on the Self-Efficacy for Musical Learning Questionnaire (Ritchie & Williamon, 2011a), with the differences on Item 9 (potential failure as motivation) being statistically significant. Narrative interviews explored the self-efficacy beliefs and lived experiences of ten undergraduate music majors of color. Despite systemic barriers to self-efficacy, students of color were confident in their ability to succeed in the field of music.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ed.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation in Practice
Year
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Lim, Rachel E.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Norma Lu Hafenstein
  • Paul Michalec
  • Brette Garner

Subjects

dc:subject × 12

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>
Language dc:language
English (eng)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2426
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-3415

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Denver
Base URL
digitalcommons.du.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Lim, Rachel E.. Self-Efficacy and Racial Identity for Undergraduate Music Majors. Dissertation in Practice thesis, 2024. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2426