Mentors, role models, and differences in self-efficacy and motivation among construction management students

Perceived self-efficacy, motivation, and the presence of mentors and role models have value as predictors of career choice and student success. To understand these constructs within the domain of construction education, a quantitative survey was administered to students enrolled in construction management courses (n = 468) at two large universities. Study results revealed that mean perceived self-efficacy toward construction education was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for construction management (CM) students who report having a role model. Further, CM students who report having a mentor reported a higher mean level of motivation to successfully complete construction education programs and courses (p = 0.015). Differences in self-efficacy and motivation toward construction education between male (n = 410) and female (n = 56) students suggest that female CM students have higher motivation towards construction education (p = 0.024) than their male counterparts. However, due to unequal gender distribution in the sample, coupled with violations of t test assumptions, gender-based findings should be interpreted with caution. This study indicates that students who report having a mentor or role model have higher self-efficacy and motivation toward construction education compared to students without a mentor or role model. The instrument adapted and utilized in the current study can be used to investigate these pertinent construction education-domain specific constructs in order to understand the influence of others on students' academic decisions and performance.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Construction Management

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Authors dc:creator

• Thevenin, Melissa K., author
• Elliott, Jonathan, advisor
• Lopez del Puerto, Carla, committee member
• Gloeckner, Gene, committee member

• motivation
• construction education
• mentor
• role model
• self-efficacy
• women

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.018870

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/88608