Social Desirability as a Variable in the Locus of Control Scale

Abstract

The present series of studies based on Ss in Catholic institutions attempted to explore several related questions concerning the social-desirability variable in the Internal-External Locus of Control scale (I-E). Results of Study I indicated that a majority of the I-E items have probability of endorsement values which depart significantly from a hypothetical value of P = .50, both for standard instruction and social-desirability instruction conditions. Study II demonstrated a small relationship between S's I-E score and S's tendency to agree with I-E items of high response-preference value ( r = .20). This relationship was especially obvious for those Ss designated as internally controlled. In Study III a significant relationship was shown between the social-desirability scale values for I-E items and the probability of I-E item endorsements ( r = .43). Moreover, a sizeable number of internal items were rated as significantly more socially desirable than the corresponding external items. It was suggested that the I-E scale may be contaminated by social desirability and that consequently the validity of the scale as a measure of locus of control is questionable.