Evaluative Self-efficacy and its Potential Role in the Evaluation and Selection of Ideas: A Metacognitive Perspective

In two studies, we examined the creativity of ideas generated, as rated by judges, and metacognitive feelings as antecedents of evaluative self-efficacy and relevance of strengths and weaknesses of the idea generated and accurate idea selection as consequences within the creative process. Participants in both studies completed a measure of metacognitive feelings, evaluative self-efficacy, and a divergent thinking task. In addition, participants rated their ideas and either identified strengths and weaknesses or selected their most creative idea. Two independent judges evaluated all ideas and either assessed the relevance of the strengths and weaknesses identified by participants or selected the most creative idea. Results showed a positive relationship between judges-evaluations and evaluative self-efficacy in one study and a positive relationship between metacognitive feelings and evaluative self-efficacy in both studies. Regarding consequences, results showed a positive relationship between evaluative self-efficacy and the relevance of strengths and weaknesses and a non-significant relationship between evaluative self-efficacy and accurate idea selection. The implications of our results for metacognition and creative beliefs were explained.