The Relationship Between Locus of Control and Academic Achievement, Anxiety, and Level of Aspiration

Abstract

Summary. While holding the influence of socio‐economic status constant, the relationship between locus of control and academic achievement, anxiety, and level of aspiration was examined among 2,438 ninth grade Israel‐Jewish students of Asian or African background and European, American, or Israeli backgrounds. It was observed that, in general, internals tend to attain greater academic achievement, to express less anxiety, and to have higher level of aspiration. The relationship between academic achievement, level of aspiration, and the perception of locus of control appears to be accentuated among students of Asian or African origin to a greater extent than among students of European, American, or Israeli origin.

Cross-Cultural Research With the Locus of Control Construct

“…Bar-Tal et al (1980) found SES to be correlated positively with internality for both his Asian-African sample (.23, ρ < .001) and his Euro-American-Israeli sample (.21, ρ < .001) Similarly small but significant correlations were found by Lao et al (1977) for their Taiwanese sample. Bar-Tal et al (1980) found SES to be correlated positively with internality for both his Asian-African sample (.23, ρ < .001) and his Euro-American-Israeli sample (.21, ρ < .001) Similarly small but significant correlations were found by Lao et al (1977) for their Taiwanese sample.…”

Relationships of Locus of Control to Self‐esteem, Academic Achievement, and Prediction of Performance Among Nigerian Secondary School Pupils

“…Rotter hypothesised that internals would engage themselves more in achievement related activities than externals who tend to feel that they have little control over their rewards and punishments. Several studies (Crandall et al, 1962;Chance, 1965;Crandall et al, 1965;McGhee and Crandall, 1968;Brown and Strickland, 1972;Bar-Tal et al, 1980) have been carried out in Western countries to test this hypothesis. I t was generally found that levels of academic achievement for internals was consistently and significantly higher than those of externals.…”

Relationships of Some Personality Variables to Academic Attainment of Secondary School Pupils

“…Hsieh et al (1969) concluded that individuals raised in a culture that values self-reliance and individualism are likely to be more internally oriented than those brought up in a different set of values. Several researchers (Morrison & Mclntyre, 1971;Phares, 1975;Bar-Tal et al, 1980) suggested that perception of locus of control is an important personality variable that relates to academic success in schools, internals tending to attain greater academic success.…”