The concept that teacher beliefs about future student achievement may actually influence the subsequent performance of students provides the basis for a model of teacher expectation communication which uses attribution theory as explanatory links in the communication process. These model links were tested in a two-year study involving 16 third-,…

The concept of field dependence/independence is defined by the behavior patterns of individuals. Those who use predominantly internal cues when making judgments on perceptual tasks are considered field independent; those who use predominantly external cues are considered field dependent. To test whether field dependence is related to anxiety,…

The Adventures in Attitudes (AIA) program is a 30-hour structured experiential seminar developed to help participants create positive attitudes and overcome negative ones. Effectiveness of AIA in promoting a positive self concept and moving an individual from an external to an internal locus of control was investigated. Adult subjects (N=6) in the…

The objective of this dissertation was to determine whether there were significant differences in the mean scores in vocational maturity between male and female students, between students who believe their career development is controlled mostly by external factors and those who believe that they control their own career development, and between…

This study attempts to clarify part of the decision-making process centering around combining family and career. There are two aspects of the study. In the first, perceived costs of combining roles are assessed and evaluated in light of mother's employment history. The subjects in this part of the study were 141 single women and 43 married women.…

This paper is a hypothetical dialogue between two influential psychologists, Jean Piaget and B. F. Skinner, on the concept of free will. The purpose of the dialogue is to critique Skinner's "Beyond Freedom and Dignity." While actual quotes are incorporated into the text from the work of both psychologists, the overall organization of the…

Results of several studies of cognitive and cultural correlates and determinants of early IE development are discussed, and some implications of the findings are pointed out. In studies of correlations between IE and intelligence test scores, results show that the scores increase regularly with age, from age 4 through 8, and there are fairly…

Alternate measures of both job structural attribute preferences and intrinsic versus extrinsic orientation to sources of job rewards were investigated with a view toward assessing instrument properties and providing direction for future improvement of such measures. Analysis indicated that different measures of intrinsic and extrinsic orientation…

The purpose of this study was two-fold: first, to determine whether children under direct patterns of teacher verbal behavior significantly differed from those under indirect patterns on internal-external (IE) locus of control; and second, to determine which of the specific teacher verbal behaviors (comprising the direct and indirect patterns)…

Presents a study designed to assess children's, pre-adolescents', and adolescents' awareness of the norm of internality and to confirm previous results that showed the importance of school in its acquisition. Concludes that children's development of internality in LOC (locus of control) should be regarded as the acquisition of a norm rather than…

Examined the help-seeking behaviors of college students needing assistance with personal problems. Using attribution theory and the learned helplessness paradigm, found that race and sex differences but not causal attribution (seeing problems as caused by internal or external factors) were related to seeking out assistance. Discusses the recurrent…

Available research suggests that personal characteristics of decision makers, influence how information is used. Results of three studies presented in this article indicate that locus of control in educational decision-making settings is related to (1) knowledge of superintendent support; (2) type of audience; and (3) context of the program.…

Presents results of a study of low-socioeconomic status grade 7 students which examined why some achieve and others do not. Focuses on which differences in self-attitudes (locus of control) and cognitive processing (field dependence) existed between the achiever and non-achiever, and whether these differences are related to achievement. (KH)

Examines the relationship among locus of control, commitment to college, and academic performance and retention of community college students enrolled in introductory baccalaureate courses. Finds locus of control, objectives, and commitment minimally related to performance, but more strongly related to retention. (Author/AYC)

There is more and more external control of classroom content and processes. This external control is being vested in legislative and administrative bodies, which are more apt to turn the school over to managerial and industrial needs. Teachers should take organized action to defend their right to control the classroom. (RM)