Explores the exact meaning of the locus of control construct and differentiates it from key constructs in the personal control literature. Clarifies the meaning of a number of constructs and advocates an approach to counseling which recognizes the heuristic and therapeutic value of employing such constructs in an integrated fashion. (RJM)

Identified resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled personality types among 7-year-old children. Found that resilient children, throughout adolescence, had higher academic achievement and fewer concentration problems and they more quickly developed a sophisticated understanding of friendship and an internal locus of control than the other…

A survey of 171 full-time faculty at a Manitoba community college identified some factors affecting participation in staff development activities. College teaching experience and perception of administrative climate were the most important determinants, suggesting administrators play a key role through funding and reward structure. (Author/MSE)

Explored reliability and validity of British measure of attitude toward training for new technology, economic locus of control, self-efficacy, and self-estrangement for Canadian adolescent population (n=255). Significant differences were obtained for educational settings on variable of attitude toward training for new technology. Males had…

Examines fifth- and sixth-grade children's responses to social rejection in relation to beliefs about the relative malleability of social skills and perceptions of responsibility for and control over social outcomes. Results show such beliefs and perceptions are associated with children's ability to surmount rejections and persist toward social…

This study (N=75) examined the effects of student ability, locus of control, and type of instructional control on performance and the motivational outcome of confidence. Results indicated that student ability and locus of control significantly influenced both performance and confidence, whereas type of instructional control did not affect…

Men and women (N=60) who had begun doctoral studies between ages of 37 and 48, half in traditional and half in self-directed learning (SDL) programs, completed 2 questionnaires. Significant ego development was found in the nonauthoritarian SDL environments, which were challenging and nurturing and fostered content mastery, skill acquisition, and…

A total of 60 boys in second, fourth, and sixth grades participated in a study of the development of children's situational attributions and dispositional inferences about peers. All age groups were able to use attributional dimensions, but younger boys were less likely to use them to form negative dispositional inferences about a target peer.…

Three causal attributions--ability, effort, and test difficulty--were examined for 223 University of Manitoba (Canada) students in relation to perceived performance and the quality of instruction. When instruction was good, causal attributions produced less variability in achievement and control. Implications for teaching are discussed. (SLD)

Examines the relationship between academic locus of control and LOGO performance among Black and White primary school students in Zimbabwe. Found that Black females' LOGO scores were negatively related to internal academic locus of control, Black and White males' scores were positively related, and White females' scores were unrelated. (LS)

Type A and B students (N=159) received contingent or non-contingent feedback on an aptitude test, attended a lecture from an expressive or unexpressive instructor, and received an achievement test and attributional questionnaire. Non-contingent feedback lowered perceived control for both types. Self-perceptions of Type A students were unaffected…

Examines the possible influence of locus of control orientation and its relationship to critical aptitudes and developmental variables. Studies six discriminator variables in order to predict an understanding of the nature of science among preservice elementary teachers with respect to locus of control orientation. (CW)

Examined efficacy of group counseling for adolescents from divorced families, investigating effects of participation in group sessions on adolescents' self-esteem and locus of control orientation. Results indicated that, compared to controls (N=30), program participants (N=30) had higher post-test levels of self-esteem and possessed a more…

Compared control group and two career interventions designed to enhance career maturity of Puerto Rican women in special college admissions program. Found no significant differences between two experimental treatments in terms of career maturity or locus of control. Findings suggest such interventions can facilitate positive changes in career…

One hundred thirteen undergraduates completed measures of career decision-making (CDM) self-efficacy, career locus of control, CDM attitudes, and CDM skills. Results proved the self-efficacy theory superior to the locus of control model in predicting college students' CDM attitudes. No significant gender differences emerged among the variables.…