The Moderating Effect of Fear of Failure on the Relationship between Peer Modeling Video Instruction and Self-Efficacy.

Abstract

Individuals use instructional videos to develop skills and knowledge. Research shows that instruction videos with peer modeling enhances self-efficacy. A peer model can show a mastery example: flawless task performance and high self-efficacy, or a coping example: showing high effort and gradual increasing performance and self-efficacy. Moreover, Piotrowski and Valkenburg state that media effects are moderated by the susceptibility of the viewer. This study investigates the moderating role of fear of failure (FF) on the relationship between peer modeling examples and self-efficacy. Academically educated adults (N = 106) aged 20-30 filled in a pre-test of self-efficacy and a fear of failure questionnaire, watched a peer modeling instructional video (mastery or coping) and filled in a self-efficacy post-test. Results showed that instructional videos enhance task related self-efficacy, but there was no main effect of model type; both mastery and coping examples were effective. Furthermore, no evidence was found that FF moderates this relationship. This may due to too little perceived observer-model similarity or the fact that participants did not have to perform and therefore did not experience FF. This study implies that both coping and mastery models can be effective in enhancing self-efficacy for individuals with or without FF.