Methodological Approaches to Measuring Self-Efficacy Among Social Work Students in Online Education

Objectives: Self-efficacy is a key construct in social work education, shaping students’ confidence and preparedness for professional practice. This study validated the social work self-efficacy (SWSE) for online education, expanding its application to a growing population of students in virtual learning environments. Method: A three-factor structure was identified using regularized exploratory factor analysis (REFA): client engagement and assessment, clinician ethical practice and professional growth, and evidence-based intervention. Communalities (h2) confirmed substantial shared variance supporting the model's reliability. Results: The REFA model confirmed substantial h2 and alignment with Bandura's self-efficacy theory, focusing on mastery, reflection, and learning. Conclusions: By validating this scale for online students, the study provides a tool for educators to assess and support student development across diverse learning modalities. This work expands the scale's applicability, offering insights for refining social work curricula to foster the self-efficacy needed for professional competence in evolving educational settings.