A person with an external locus of control who gets an f in mathematics class is most likely to say:
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Abstract The theoretical and empirical underpinnings of teacher efficacy are examined to bring coherence to the construct and its measurement. First, we explore the correlates of teacher efficacy revealed using various instruments and search for patterns that suggest a better understanding of the construct. Next, we introduce a model of teacher efficacy that reconciles two competing conceptual strands found in the literature. Then we examine implications of the research on teacher efficacy for teacher preparation and suggest strategies for improving the efficacy of inservice teachers. Finally, we propose new directions for research in light of the proposed model. Show Journal Information Review of Educational Research (RER) publishes critical, integrative reviews of research literature bearing on education. Such reviews should include conceptualizations, interpretations, and syntheses of literature and scholarly work in a field. RER encourages the submission of research relevant to education from any discipline, such as reviews of research in psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, political science, economics, computer science, statistics, anthropology, and biology, provided that the review bears on educational issues. Publisher Information The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. AERA is the most prominent international professional organization with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application. Its 20,000 members are educators; administrators; directors of research, testing or evaluation in federal, state and local agencies; counselors; evaluators; graduate students; and behavioral scientists. The broad range of disciplines represented by the membership includes education, psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science. Rights & Usage This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Abstract The relationship between locus of control and three dimensions of discovery learning was investigated in a series of studies. Mathematics students were randomly assigned to treatments that differed in level of guidance, inductive or deductive sequencing, or use of small groups. A significant aptitude-treatment interaction occurred between locus of control and small-group instruction on the topic of networks. The other studies did not produce significant interactions, although varying the level of guidance did produce a trend in the predicted direction. Using inductive or deductive sequences of instruction did not appear to interact with locus of control. Journal Information The Journal of Experimental Education publishes basic and applied-research studies that use the range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies found in the behavioral, cognitive, and social sciences. The journal features articles that seek to improve knowledge of how learning and instructional, motivational, and social processes affect educational outcomes across all ages and education levels, including public and private education in the United States and abroad. The Journal of Experimental Education also reports methodological or statistical findings that enhance the interpretation of educational data. The journal – essential reading for researchers and practitioners interested in advancing educational research and its use to improve teaching, learning, and schooling – is divided into three distinct sections: Learning and Instruction; Motivation and Social Processes; and Measurement, Statistics, and Research Design. Publisher Information Building on two centuries' experience, Taylor & Francis has grown rapidlyover the last two decades to become a leading international academic publisher.The Group publishes over 800 journals and over 1,800 new books each year, coveringa wide variety of subject areas and incorporating the journal imprints of Routledge,Carfax, Spon Press, Psychology Press, Martin Dunitz, and Taylor & Francis.Taylor & Francis is fully committed to the publication and dissemination of scholarly information of the highest quality, and today this remains the primary goal. Rights & Usage This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. 31 MIN READ Are You in Charge of Your Destiny?
As the environment around you changes, you can either attribute success and failure to things you have control over, or to forces outside your influence. Which orientation you choose has a bearing on your long-term success. This orientation is known as your "locus of control." Its study dates back to the 1960s, with Julian Rotter's investigation into how people's behaviors and attitudes affected the outcomes of their lives. See the transcript of this video below. Video Transcript Welcome to Mind Tools' video learning series. How much control do you feel you have over your own life? Are you firmly in the driving seat? Or do you feel as if you're always at the mercy of forces beyond your control? The way you perceive the degree of influence that you have over your own life is called your "locus of control." You have an internal locus of control when you believe you're in charge of your own life and your own environment. Your successes are down to your hard work and the decisions that you make. And you take personal responsibility for your failures. But when you have an external locus of control, you believe that outside influences shape your life. Your successes and failures are due to forces like "luck," "fate," "chance," and the actions of other people in more powerful positions. And you feel that there's not much that you can do about it. Few people have a wholly internal or external locus of control, and most of us will sit somewhere between the two. Why not take our quiz to identify your own locus of control? You can pause the video here, then play the rest afterward to find out what your results mean. If the quiz reveals that you have a strong internal locus of control, you'll feel in full control of your life. You're motivated and goal-focused, and chances are you're a good leader, too. But, you may struggle to accept authority, and any failures you experience could bring on feelings of anxiety, stress and even depression. If you have a moderate internal locus of control, you'll probably accept most situations that you can't influence. But you're still able to manage them effectively. The degree of control that you feel you have will likely vary from day to day, and will depend on the situation. If your results show that you have an external locus of control, you may tend to give up when you're faced with disappointments, because you don't believe that you have the power to change things. But you do! Develop a stronger internal locus of control by working on your self-talk. For example, by using positive affirmations. And take ownership of the situations you face by strengthening your decision-making and problem-solving skills. Setting yourself challenging, personal goals will also help to put you more firmly in control of your career and personal development. Locus of control describes the degree to which individuals perceive that outcomes result from their own behaviors, or from forces that are external to themselves. This produces a continuum with external control at one end and internal control at the other, as shown in figure 1, below: Figure 1. The Locus of Control Scale.People who develop an internal locus of control believe that they are responsible for their own success. Those with an external locus of control believe that external forces, like luck, determine their outcomes. Use the interactive quiz below to determine your current locus of control: Understanding Your Own Locus of ControlInstructions:For each pair of statements, choose the one that you believe to be the most accurate, not the one you wish was most true. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. Click the "Calculate My Total" button to add up your score and check your result using the scoring table underneath. Your last quiz results are shown.You last completed this quiz on , at .
Note:This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is patterned after the Locus of Control Scale developed and presented in Rotter, J.B. (1966), "Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement," Psychological Monographs, 80 (Whole No. 609). Get the Free NewsletterLearn career skills every week, plus get a bonus Explore Your Potential Checklist, free! Read our Privacy Policy Internal Locus of Control (strong)If you have a strong internal locus of control, you will likely feel that you’re in full control of the events in your life. You are self-motivated and focused on achieving the goals you have set for yourself. For these reasons, people with a strong internal locus of control often make good leaders. However, there is a potential downside to having a very strong internal locus of control. Your powerful self-belief may mean that you find it difficult to take direction, so be careful to avoid seeming arrogant or "walking over" other people in pursuit of your objectives. And be sure to manage risks properly – random events do occur for all sorts of reasons. A very strong internal drive may lead you to believe that you can control everything, and if your plans don’t work out you may feel responsible for their failure – even when events were genuinely beyond your control. This can lead to frustration, anxiety and, in extreme cases, stress or depression. Internal Locus of Control (moderate)You likely see your future as being in your own hands. As a result, you engage in activities that will improve your situation: you work hard to develop your knowledge, skills and abilities, and you take note of information that you can use to create positive outcomes. However, few people have a wholly internal or external locus of control: most of us fall somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum. Your locus of control may vary in different situations – at work and at home, for example – and it may change over time. People often tend toward a more internal locus of control as they grow older and their ability to influence the events in their lives increases. Having a moderate, rather than strong, internal locus of control may make you more able to accept situations that you can’t influence, and to manage them effectively when they arise. External Locus of ControlIf you have an external locus of control, you likely believe that what happens to you is the result of luck or fate, or is determined by people in authority. You may tend to give up when life doesn't "go your way," because you don’t feel that you have the power to change it. To overcome this, pay attention to your self-talk. When you hear yourself saying things like "I have no choice," or "There's nothing I can do," step back and remind yourself that you can always make choices. Set goals for yourself and note how you are making positive changes in your life by working toward and achieving these goals. You'll find that your self-confidence quickly builds. You may find it useful to develop your decision making and problem-solving skills. These tools can enable you to take greater ownership of situations, rather than blaming circumstances or forces "beyond your control" when things go wrong. Key PointsYour locus of control says a lot about how you view the world and your role in determining the course of your life. When you believe you have the power to control your own destiny and determine your own direction, you have a strong internal locus of control. In most cases, this is an important attitude to have if you want to be successful. People with an internal locus of control tend to work harder and persevere longer in order to get what they want. This is not to say that having an external locus of control is always bad: there are some situations where this approach can work well. The key for your own personal development is to understanding your natural tendency and then adapting it to the situations you are faced with. |
