Applied life-span construct model by administering life drawing to 78 older women. Quantitative findings indicated that more positively adjusted women maintained external locus of control, were future oriented, and defined life-span in terms of family. Qualitative data revealed that women who described their lives in positive terms were those who…

Reports research designed to develop a reliable and valid instrument to assess the relationship between locus of control of reinforcement and environmentally responsible behavior in (n=853) undergraduate students. Results suggest that the Environmental Action Internal Control Index can accurately predict environmentally responsible behavior.…

Attempts to replicate findings of previous research concerning sex differences in perceived locus of control among undergraduates in Antwerp, Belgium. Postulates the Rotter Scale does not measure the female perception of control and hypothesizes that female answers are determined by perceived socially acceptable answers. (NL)

Explored farm families' attitudes and beliefs about success and failure, locus of responsibility for need, beliefs on predictability and causes of need, attitudes about deservingness and priorities of groups in need, and degrees of acceptability for seeking help. Findings from 42 households with 44 farm families highlighted influence of 1980s farm…

College students (n=177) ranked influence they thought various factors had on their smoking behavior. Subjects ranked peers first and cigarette advertisements last as causes of starting to smoke; my decision and health education advertisements highest and peers lowest for quitting smoking. Findings suggest students perceived they had high degree…

Investigated relationship between baseline internal health locus of control (IHLC) and 6-year change in physical functioning in 356 older adults. IHLC was strongly related to change in physical functioning for women at all levels of baseline functioning but only affected men with lower baseline functioning. IHLC was related to importance placed on…

Developed a scale for measuring an individual's tendency to see himself or herself as an inner-directed agent or as a pawn, an outer-directed creature and tested the scale with 49 Norwegian college students. Reliability and validity results are promising. (SLD)

Analysis of the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) database determined the growth of frequency of use of the term globalization during 1989-1995. Lists globalized items during 1989-1995: business, industry, production, and technology. Notes that science has not become globalized because it is still supported and managed by national governments.…

Educators who focus on control pay more attention to curriculum and depositing knowledge than learning processes. A focus on freedom shifts the locus of control but depends on rationality and autonomy, which isolate and dehumanize. A focus on balance enables a holistic, inclusive approach that acknowledges interpersonal connections. (Contains 55…

Study of a construction contractor modernizing production showed that creation of an effective learning mood was more likely in a supportive environment in which people explore their actions as they work ("pull learning"). However, an external change agent ("push learning") was useful in provoking the reflection that triggered workplace learning.…

Assessed the personal impact of women's studies courses for 124 female and 41 male college students, most of whom were Caucasian. Changes associated with course completion were a more progressive gender role orientation and an increased locus of control. These changes were similarly experienced by men and women in the courses. (SLD)

Six participants in extension seminars on women's participation in public policy increased knowledge about local, state, and national decision makers. The program had a positive impact on their involvement in public policy affairs and their feelings of internal control. (SK)

Describes the complex context of language choice in schools in Cree communities on the east coast of James bay in Quebec before Cree was used as the language of instruction. Four important threads of concern were identified: locus of control, economies of scale, community visions of language and education, and the role of literacies. (Author/VWL)

The authors examine the relationship between students' locus of control and their evaluation of teaching in a traditional principles of economics course. Locus of control is a psychological construct that identifies an individual's beliefs about the degree of personal control that can be exercised over his or her environment. Students with an…

Noting the attractions of self-report questionnaires and surveys to those engaged in educational research, this article discusses some of the problems that can arise from their injudicious use. It is argued that the potentially misleading nature of findings from such approaches is particularly highlighted when mixed methodologies are employed.…