This paper presents the development of a new measure of locus of control in adults, the Internal Control Index. Locus of control orientation has been found to be related to cognitive processing, motivation, conformity and autonomy, and self-reliance. Previously developed instruments measure external locus of control, have been criticized for format, response set, dimensionality, and low reliability. The study was conducted in four phases: pretesting item development, tryout testing (N = 548), field testing (N = 684), and a replication study with a sample (N = 133) of junior college students. The analyses of the field test and junior college administration indicated an estimated reliability for the ICI of .84, the presence of a strong principal component, two replicable factors, and evidence for convergent validity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abramowitz, S. I. (1973). Internal-external control and social-political activism: A Test of the dimensionality of Rotter's internal-external scale. Journal of Consulting and Clincial Psychology, 40, 196-201.
2.
Campbell, D. T. and Fiske, D. W. (1959). Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 56 (2), 81-105.
3.
Cattell, R. B. and Kline, P. (1977). The scientific analysis of personality and motivation. New York: Academic Press.
4.
Cherlin, A. and Bourque, L. B. (1974). Dimensionality and reliability of the Rotter I-E Scale. Sociometry, 37, 565-582.
5.
Collins, B. E. (1974). Four separate components of the Rotter I-E Scale: Belief in a difficult world, a just world, a predictable world, and a politically responsive world. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 381-391. PATRICIA C. DUTTWEILER
6.
Cronbach, L. J. and Meehl, P. E. (1955). Construct validity in psychological tests. Psychological Bulletin, 52, 281-302.
7.
Gurin, P. , Gurin, G., Lao, R. C., and Beattie, M. (1969). Internal-external control in the motivational dynamics of Negro youth. Journal of Social Issues, 25, 29-53.
8.
Helwig, J. T. and Council, K. A. (Eds.) (1979). SAS users' guide. Cary, N. C.: SAS Institute, Inc.
9.
Joe, V. C. (1971). Review of the internal-external control construct as a personality variable. Psychological Reports, 28, 619-640.
10.
Kleiber, D. , Veldman, D. J., and Menaker, S. L. (1973). The multidimensionality of locus of control. Paper presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D. C.
11.
Lefcourt, H. M. (1976). Locus of control: Current trends in theory and research. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
12.
Levenson, J. (1973). Multidimensional locus of control in psychiatric patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 41, 397-404.
13.
Levenson, H. (1974). Activism and powerful others: Distinction within the concept of internal-external control. Journal of Personality Assessment, 38, 377-383.
14.
MacDonald, A. P., Jr. (1973). Measures of internal-external control. In J. P. Robinson and P. R. Shaver (Eds.) Measures of social psychological attitudes. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
15.
Mirels, H. L. (1970). Dimensions of internal versus external control. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 34, 226-228.
16.
Nie, N. H. , Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K., and Bent, D. H. (1975). Statistical package for the social studies. New York: McGraw-Hill.
17.
Prociuk, T. J. and Lussier, R. J. (1975). Internal-external locus of control: An analysis and bibliography of two years of research (1973-1974). Psychological Reports, 37, 1323-1337.
18.
Reid, D. and Ware, E. F. (1974). Multidimensionality of internal versus external control: Addition of a-third dimension and non-distinction of self versus others. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 6, 131-142.
19.
Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80, (1, Whole No. 609).
20.
Rotter, J. B. (1975). Some problems and misconceptions related to the construct of internal vs. external control of reinforcement. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 56-67.
21.
Rotter, J. B. , Chance, J., and Phares, E. J. (Eds.). (1972). Applications of a social learning theory of personality. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
22.
Underwood, B. J. (1957). Psychological research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
23.
Zuckerman, M. and Gerbasi, K. C. (1977). Dimensions of the I-E Scale and their relationship to other personality measures. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 37, 159-175.
