Self-Efficacy and Self-Awareness in Scientific Translators' Education: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of a preliminary study on the evolution of self-efficacy and self-awareness among scientific translation students throughout one semester using data collected for three academic years. The analysis was based on the two components of self-efficacy: the perception that students have of their own capabilities to perform specific activities related to scientific and technical translation and their actual capabilities to perform those activities. To assess the self-efficacy beliefs of students, we analyzed the evolution of the self-perception of students based on the results of two questionnaires, an initial assessment questionnaire on their translation habits and problems, and a final psychometric questionnaire on the perceived usefulness of the pedagogical method used and on their self-efficacy beliefs. To assess the actual capabilities of students, we analyzed the evolution of the number of errors in each translation assignment and of the academic scores of students. The comparative analysis of the diagnostic assessment questionnaire and the diagnostic assessment translation assignment revealed low self-awareness at the beginning of the semester, as evidenced by a poor correspondence between students’ perceptions and performance. In contrast, a high degree of correspondence was found between self-efficacy beliefs and academic performance at the end of the semester, which suggests that the implemented method helped students develop realistic self-efficacy beliefs.