Examined two questions related to adolescents' perceived control, conceptualized as agentic representation persons construct for themselves: (1) To what extent is perceived control specific to particular domains? and (2) How many dimensions are involved in perceived control? Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor structure: an…

Analyzes attitudinal and behavioral correlates of the following four categories of high school students from the High School and Beyond study: (1) scholar-athletes; (2) pure scholars; (3) pure athletes; and (4) nonscholar-nonathletes. Findings are discussed in terms of self-esteem, internal locus of control, and extracurricular involvement. (SLD)

Describes a study of affective differences between 300 university undergraduates enrolled in an introductory psychology course, comparing students who elected to participate in Supplemental Instruction (a nonremedial, academic support model targeting high-risk courses) with those who did not. Assesses Supplemental Instruction's effects on locus of…

Discusses the perceived immunity of gifted children to social adjustment problems. Reports the findings of a study of the issue. Concludes that some gifted students, particularly girls, are highly susceptible to crises of self-esteem, alienation, anxiety, and locus of control. Suggests preventive guidance to assist such children in developing…

Studies the influence of self-esteem, locus of control, attitudes toward women's family roles, attitudes toward school, educational aspirations, and religiosity on the probability of teenage premarital pregnancy and its resolution. Results for 1,142 white adolescent girls show that self-esteem and attitudes toward schooling and family roles were…

Explores relationships between perceived control of life of 375 African-American college students and both specific and general fears of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). African-American students have relatively variable responses, but feeling in control is related to lower levels of specific and general fears of AIDS. (SLD)

Examines gender differences between 60 male and 67 female third graders concerning motivational orientation for correlation with incidence of depression. Results indicate that females were more often extrinsically motivated and more often depressed than males. Males were intrinsically motivated and had fewer incidents of depression than females.…

Summer institute grouped secondary health teachers with current health research and education leaders, offering information to increase their perceptions of personal control over health teaching. Assessment indicated they developed a higher sense of personal control over health teaching and of influences exerted over personal health by powerful…

A stepwise multiple regression analysis of final course grades of 184 psychology students revealed that scores on a self-assessment of memory ability were the best predictors of final course grades, followed by locus of control, and scores on the Self-Concept of Academic Ability Test. (SLD)

The locus of control, whether internal or external, is an influential concept in second-language learning. One observes it, for example, in Puerto Rican students returning to Puerto Rico to take university-level courses. Explanations address a teaching method relying on use of problems with examples in such a way as to empower students. This also…

This follow-up article outlines goals, principles, and techniques for improving curriculum and instruction for secondary students with learning disabilities so that the following affective goals are fostered: intrinsic motivation, internal locus of control, academic and social self-concept, self-esteem, a sense of competence and confidence, an…

Nearly 140 studies of motivation in African Americans were reviewed. The review is organized around five topics that are subsumed under three assumptions about the relationship between ethnic minority status and motivation. African Americans appear to maintain a belief in personal control, have high expectancies, and enjoy positive self-regard.…

This study of community college students investigated predictors of student dropout in distance education courses. Considered locus of control, gender, number of distance education courses completed, age, financial assistance, and number of hours employed, and used correlation and discriminant analysis to show locus of control and financial aid…

Extended the internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model of self-concept formation by relating Chinese, English, and math achievement to Chinese, English, and math self-concepts in a five year longitudinal study based on a large representative sample of Hong Kong high school students. (Author)

Analyzes National Educational Longitudinal Study 1988 data to test the effect of participation in extracurricular activities on high school achievement. Shows that participation in some activities improves achievement, while participation in others diminishes achievement. Concludes participation in interscholastic sports promote student…