Relation of Scores on Rotter's I-E Scale to Short-Term and Long-Term Control Expectancies and Fatalism

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was twofold. First, we analysed whether expectancies of personal control versus nonpersonal control could reliably be assessed by structured interviews recorded on videotape. Second, by means of factor analysis, we analysed the relation between the interview locus-of-control scores and the scores obtained by Rotter's I-E scale. Analysis showed that the scores on Rotter's I-E scale are correlated with short-term expectancies but not with long-term expectancies or fatalism. Possible explanations for these findings are suggested.