IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/comaot/v28y2022i1d10.1007_s10588-020-09317-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Social cognitive theory and women’s career choices: an agent—based model simulation

Author

Listed:
  • Najib A. Mozahem

    (Qatar University)

Abstract

An agent-based model is proposed and tested. This model aims to simulate agency as conceptualized in Bandura's (Am Psychol 37:122–147, 1982; Organ Behav Hum Decis Process 50:248–287; Annu Rev Psychol 52: 1–26) Social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory has been used to explain the continued underrepresentation of females in certain fields, most notably fields that are associated with engineering and technology. The theory proposes that agents acquire information from four different sources, and then, through a process of reciprocal interaction, these agents develop their perception of self-efficacy. In this study, an agent-based model is used to model this interaction. The output from the simulation supports the validity of the model used and illustrates how agency "emerges" from the triadic interaction. The model successfully simulates several of the theorized aspects of social cognitive theory. The simulation results reveal that even small gendered differences can lead to female misrepresentation in certain fields. The model also shows that female discouragement plays a larger role than male encouragement in female underrepresentation. The implications of these results are discussed. Finally, the limitations of the model are discussed, along with directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Najib A. Mozahem, 2022. "Social cognitive theory and women’s career choices: an agent—based model simulation," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:comaot:v:28:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10588-020-09317-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10588-020-09317-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10588-020-09317-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10588-020-09317-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Davide Secchi & Raffaello Seri, 2017. "Controlling for false negatives in agent-based models: a review of power analysis in organizational research," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 94-121, March.
    2. Lawrence A. Kuznar & William Frederick, 2007. "Simulating the effect of nepotism on political risk taking and social unrest," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 29-37, March.
    3. Frank M. A. Klingert & Matthias Meyer, 2012. "Effectively combining experimental economics and multi-agent simulation: suggestions for a procedural integration with an example from prediction markets research," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 63-90, March.
    4. Glenn Ellison & Ashley Swanson, 2010. "The Gender Gap in Secondary School Mathematics at High Achievement Levels: Evidence from the American Mathematics Competitions," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(2), pages 109-128, Spring.
    5. Bandura, Albert, 1991. "Social cognitive theory of self-regulation," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 248-287, December.
    6. Natalie Fridman & Gal A. Kaminka, 2010. "Modeling pedestrian crowd behavior based on a cognitive model of social comparison theory," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 348-372, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Iris Lorscheid & Matthias Meyer, 2021. "Toward a better understanding of team decision processes: combining laboratory experiments with agent-based modeling," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(9), pages 1431-1467, November.
    2. Carlos Bazan, 2022. "Effect of the University’s Environment and Support System on Subjective Social Norms as Precursor of the Entrepreneurial Intention of Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    3. Irene Chu & Mai Chi Vu, 2022. "The Nature of the Self, Self-regulation and Moral Action: Implications from the Confucian Relational Self and Buddhist Non-self," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 245-262, September.
    4. Dickerson, Andy & McIntosh, Steven & Valente, Christine, 2015. "Do the maths: An analysis of the gender gap in mathematics in Africa," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-22.
    5. Nagore Iriberri & Pedro Rey-Biel, 2019. "Competitive Pressure Widens the Gender Gap in Performance: Evidence from a Two-stage Competition in Mathematics," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 129(620), pages 1863-1893.
    6. Chen, Xi & Zhang, Stephen X., 2024. "Too much of two good things: The curvilinear effects of self-efficacy and market validation in new ventures," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Xu, Xiaojing & Chen, Chien-fei & Zhu, Xiaojuan & Hu, Qinran, 2018. "Promoting acceptance of direct load control programs in the United States: Financial incentive versus control option," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 1278-1287.
    8. Jaeyeob Jeong & Myeonggil Choi, 2017. "The Expected Job Satisfaction Affecting Entrepreneurial Intention as Career Choice in the Cultural and Artistic Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, September.
    9. Jay A. Richards & Martin P. Johnson, 2014. "A Case for Theoretical Integration," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, May.
    10. Pedro Marques-Quinteiro & Luís Curral & Ana Passos, 2012. "Adapting The Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire to The Portuguese Context," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(3), pages 553-564, September.
    11. Yi Sun & Shihui Li & Lingling Yu, 2022. "The dark sides of AI personal assistant: effects of service failure on user continuance intention," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(1), pages 17-39, March.
    12. Mohammed-Aminu Sanda, 2011. "Managerial Self-efficacy and Discretionary Behavior Improving Work Environment for Small Firm Performance," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 2(6), pages 259-266.
    13. Sabrina Harris & Michael Brooks & Robin Liles & Glacia Ethridge & Quinton Boston & Kacie Blalock, 2019. "Understanding Differences between CORE and CACREP Counselors-in-Training Perceptions of Self-Efficacy," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 7(1), pages 40-52, January.
    14. Giorgio Fagiolo & Mattia Guerini & Francesco Lamperti & Alessio Moneta & Andrea Roventini, 2017. "Validation of Agent-Based Models in Economics and Finance," LEM Papers Series 2017/23, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    15. Zhiya Hua & Dandan Ma, 2022. "Depression and Perceived Social Support among Unemployed Youths in China: Investigating the Roles of Emotion-Regulation Difficulties and Self-Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    16. repec:hig:wpaper:11edu2013 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Mateusz Ludwiczak & Małgorzata Bronikowska, 2022. "Fair Play in a Context of Physical Education and Sports Behaviours," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    18. Barboza Solís, Cristina & Fantin, Romain & Castagné, Raphaële & Lang, Thierry & Delpierre, Cyrille & Kelly-Irving, Michelle, 2016. "Mediating pathways between parental socio-economic position and allostatic load in mid-life: Findings from the 1958 British birth cohort," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 19-27.
    19. Marina Mustapha Author_Email: Marina.Mustapha@taylors.edu.my & Normala Daud, 2011. "Impact Of Perceived Performance Appraisal Effectiveness On Knowledge Worker Turnover Intention: A Conceptual Model," 2nd International Conference on Business and Economic Research (2nd ICBER 2011) Proceeding 2011-465, Conference Master Resources.
    20. Hermes, Henning & Huschens, Martin & Rothlauf, Franz & Schunk, Daniel, 2021. "Motivating low-achievers—Relative performance feedback in primary schools," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 45-59.
    21. Christopher B. Neck & Christopher P. Neck & Elizabeth A. Goldsby & Michael G. Goldsby, 2023. "Pushing Down on Me: The Paradoxical Role of Self-Leadership in the Context of Work Pressure," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:comaot:v:28:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10588-020-09317-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.