A study comparing mean locus of control and attribution scores of 137 elementary students found that underachieving gifted students' mean attribution scores were higher than other groups for ability in success situations. Underachieving gifted and non-gifted students' mean scores were higher than achieving gifted peers for externality and luck in…

It was found that from second to third generation, Mexican American children increasingly approach Anglo American norms with respect to field independence, reading achievement, and math achievement. Opposite trends were obtained with respect to self esteem; no significant effects were found with regard to locus of control. (Author/AM)

Children's responses to requests for clarification varying in explicitness are examined. Some possible relations between personality dimensions, developmental level, academic status, and understanding of the rules of conversational turn-taking are explored. Findings suggest that these variables must be considered in order to understand individual…

The present study provides information regarding the utility of a multidimensional LOC construct with children. The results suggest caution in assuming white to be more internally oriented than Indian children. Rather, when socioeconomic status factors and urban/rural differences are controlled, any assumptions about such differences become…

Examined depressive symptoms and achievement attributions in 51 attention deficit-disordered (ADD) and 51 normal school children. Found that ADD children acknowledged having more depressive symptoms and displayed more external attributions both for positive and for negative achievement than did normal children. (Author)

In this study, locus of control and IQ were compared to assess the power of each as a predictor of performance on academic and non-academic tasks. Four locus of control scales: the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale, the Academic Achievement Accountability Questionnaire, the Rotter I-E scale, the Origin-Pawn measure and the Iowa Tests…

Institutionalized emotionally disturbed boys and noninstitutionalized normal boys were administered the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children. Locus of control and separate factor scores were calculated. Helplessness factor scores, but not overall locus of control scores, differentiated the two groups. (BJG)

This study compared the causal attribution by sex for academic failures of 38 learning disabled and 38 nondisabled elementary school students. The relationship between different attributional tendencies and a reading persistence task were also examined. (BS)

This study compared levels of computer use by 170 practicing elementary school teachers with 167 preservice teachers' expected levels of use. Results of questionnaires assessed levels of computer use, self-competence in the use of computers, perceived relevance of computers to teaching, teacher locus of control, and teacher innovativeness.…

In this study of four hyperactive elementary children, the effects of painting and physical activities on attention-to-task were observed. Both techniques brought improvement, the pleasure of the activities seeming to provide an intrinsic reward which the children internalized, bringing increased attention-to-task to other classroom activities.…

Studies in the area of locus of control have tended to neglect the familial antecedents of this variable, particularly among ethnic minorities, and to overlook the role of teachers in the development of children's locus of control beliefs. Moreover, studies have not examined the simultaneous contribution of parents' and teachers' socialization…

The reasons 184 American and 399 Japanese fifth-graders gave for achievement and good conduct in school were compared. Responses of Japanese children may reflect stronger identification with adult authority. Japanese children gave fewer external reasons for actions than their American counterparts. Implications for the study of motivation are…

The inferior performance of external locus of control (LOC) subjects (Ss) on achievement tests has been attributed by many researchers to cognitive and perceptual deficiencies. Several studies have shown that advance organizers (AO) which provide optimal anchorage and mobilize existing relevant concepts, facilitate learning of verbal material.…