Self-Efficacy in Service-Learning Community Action Research: Theory, Research, and Practice

The purpose of this article is threefold: In the first section, an overview of research and theory on the self-efficacy construct is provided, and the central role of self-efficacy in service-learning community action research is demonstrated. The second section reviews over 10 years of research validating the Community Service Self-Efficacy Scale (CSSES), which measures the individual’s confidence in his or her own ability to make clinically (meaningfully) significant contributions to the community through service. Within the context of this review, recent (previously unpublished) validation research is also reviewed. Alternate versions of the CSSES, each of which was developed for a specific purpose, are presented. The third section provides recommendations for further research focused on (a) validating the CSSES and (b) examining self-efficacy as an outcome, moderator, and mediating variable in service-learning community action research.     

Community Psychology and Global Climate Change: Introduction to the Special Section

Global climate change is not just a distant environmental or future problem but a crisis that has a clear human face already causing the suffering of millions around the globe. It is an issue of high relevance for community psychologists and the communities we work with but has received little attention within the field of community psychology. This special section is intended to promote more thinking and dialogue on this important topic. Six articles are presented that feature both theoretical consideration and empirical research related to global climate change and related environmental issues.     

Introduction to the Special Section

This study adopted a dialectical framework to provide insight into the doctoral advisement relationship early in the dissertation phase in different disciplines. Interpretive analysis of in-depth interviews with 6 advisor–student pairs revealed the variety of ways that the autonomy–guidance dialectic was conceptualized and experienced. It also illustrated moments when the advisor and student were not synchronized in their perceptions. Implications are considered.     

Special Section Epilogue: A Call to Action

The purpose of this article is to offer specific recommendations and a call to action for counselors who engage in social justice work. Recommendations regarding the philosophical, ethical, spiritual, and religious aspects of social justice work are emphasized in this call to action based on articles presented in this special section.     

Introduction to Special Section: Student Paper Competition

It is not unusual for researchers to complain about institutional review board (IRB) oversight, but social scientists have a unique set of objections to the work of ethics committees. In an effort to better understand the problems associated with ethics review of social, behavioral, and economic sciences (SBES) research, this article examines 3 different aspects of research ethics committees: (a) the composition of review boards; (b) the guidelines used by these boards to review SBES—and in particular, behavioral health—research; and (c) the actual deliberations of IRBs. The article concludes with recommendations for changes in the review process and with suggestions for filling the gaps in knowledge about the way IRBs work.     

Introduction to the Special Section on Applied Longitudinal Methods in Aging Research

This article introduces articles that appear in the special section on applied longitudinal methods in aging research. These articles apply quantitative statistical techniques such as multilevel modeling and structural equation models to the analysis of longitudinal data. They exemplify how applications of these techniques can advance scientific research on the effects of aging on psychological constructs. ((c) 2003 APA, all rights reserved)