Locus of Control in South Africa

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Abstract
The locus of control (LOC) orientation of 1888 Black, Colored, Indian, and White South African students and pupils was investigated. The research population was controlled according to these ethnic groups, socioeconomic status, sex, and age. Rotter's Internal-External (I-E) Scale and Levenson's Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance (IPC) Scale were used. The results showed significant differences in the LOC expectancies of the four ethnic groups. Sex- and age-related differences were also found, but socioeconomic status-related differences were absent. The factor analyses of the I-E Scale scores revealed reasonably to highly consistent factors which were unique to each ethnic group. Furthermore, the Rotter External and the Levenson Internal scores were significantly negatively correlated. The findings suggest that the I-E Scale can be meaningfully used with South African ethnic groups, but that further substantiation and refinement of the factor structures is necessary.