LOCUS OF CONTROL AMONG SELECTED STUDENTS ATTENDING VARIOUS TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN WEST BERLIN

Abstract

It was the purpose of this study to determine and compare the locus of control of selected seventh and tenth grade students attending the comprehensive high school (Gesamtschule) with those attending two of the traditional high schools (Hauptschule and Gymnasium) in West Berlin, Germany. Eight hundred twenty-nine students from three Hauptschulen, two Gymnasium and two Gesamtschulen participated in the study (males = 486, females = 343). A translated version of Rotter's Internal-External Scale of Locus of Control and a demographic questionnaire were administered to the students in the spring of 1981. The data were analyzed in reference to seven variables: school affiliation; grade level; sex; ordinal position; family size; socioeconomic status; and religious affiliation. Data analysis was performed by comparisons of means using one and two factor analyses of variance with the .05 level of significance held critical. Results revealed significant differences among secondary school students. Students at the Hauptschule, on the whole, were significantly more internal than students at the Gesamtschule or the Gymnasium. Taking grade level into consideration, seventh grade students were more internal than tenth grade students. Analyses of the results on the influence of sex, ordinal position and family size on locus of control did not produce significant differences. Although high socioeconomic status students in all schools had lower, more internal, locus of control scores, the difference was not significant. Analysis of variance of locus of control as a function of school attendance and religious affiliation produced significant differences across school types and significant interaction, but failed to produce significant differences between Protestan and Roman Catholic students as a whole. This study succeeded in providing a prototype for cross-cultural research of locus of control. It demonstrated the usefulness of a translated American assessment scale and established locus of control norms for a specific German population.