ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a detailed overview of “Collective Efficacy,” a concept first identified by Albert Bandura in the 1970s and later applied to educational settings. The concept postulates that a group’s shared belief in its ability to succeed can indeed contribute to actual success. Many researchers, like Kim, Shin, and Bandura himself, demonstrated the effects of collective efficacy in various domains, such as corporate environments and schools, with positive beliefs correlating with increased productivity and academic achievement.
Later researchers like Eells and Hattie significantly developed this concept, with Hattie identifying Collective Efficacy as a leading factor influencing student achievement. It was found to be more predictive of student success than socio-economic status or student motivation. The research suggests that a school culture imbued with Collective Efficacy can positively shift, leading to improved collaboration, persistence, and student learning.
The chapter ends by proposing to extend the principles of Collective Efficacy to special education teams, forming collaborative networks of parents, teachers, and therapists, all committed to student success. The chapter explores how this belief in collective ability can create a synergistic effect, driving superior results for all involved.
