Locus of Control: Perceived Contingency or Perceived Competence?

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Abstract
The hypothesis that the superior performance of internal in contrast to external subjects on a variety of tasks is based on perceived competence rather than on perceived contingency was examined. A Perceived Competence Scale and a Perceived Contingency Scale, derived from Collins' 1974 factor analysis of the Rotter 1966 Locus of Control Scale, were given to 100 subjects. Subjects then performed two intentional and two incidental tasks. Stepwise multiple regression analyses for each dependent measure, with scores on the three scales as independent variables, provided partial support for the hypothesis. Only scores on the Perceived Competence Scale contributed to variance on the first intentional and first incidental task. None of the comparisons were statistically significant for the other two dependent measures. The voluminous literature showing superior performance by internally scoring subjects may not provide as much support for the locus of control construct as is currently thought. A perceived competence dimension within the Locus of Control Scale may be responsible for the superiority of internally scoring subjects on a variety of tasks and personality measures.