DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE SCHROEDER LABOR LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALE TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE INCONGRUENCY DURING CHILDBIRTH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an index of primigravidas' Performance Incongruency as represented by the difference between the scores on the two forms of the Schroeder Labor Locus of Control Scale (SLLOC). The first form measured primigravidas' expectations for control during labor and delivery. The second form indexed primiparas' perceptions of the actual control they had during their childbirth experience. The convenience sample of primigravida included 34 subjects from one prenatal clinic and 27 from another. Of this sample of 61, 50 delivered during the study and comprised the primipara sample. A descriptive design was used for validity and reliability estimates. The results indicated that the content validity of the pre-labor form of the SLLOC met the established criterion of 90% interrater agreement. Criterion validity estimates on both forms did not achieve the established criterion nor did the convergent-discriminant estimates of construct validity within the instrument. Convergent-discriminant validity external to the scale, however, approached the established criterion. Test-retest reliability estimates of the pre-labor form demonstrated stability (r = .81). The Internal subscale of both forms of the SLLOC was internally consistent with coefficient Alphas of .81 for the pre-labor form and .71 for the post-delivery form. The External-Chance subscale of both forms approached the criterion for internal consistency, but the External/Powerful Others subscale did not. The findings for the index of Performance Incongruency supported literature reports suggesting that primigravidae who had participated in childbirth education classes experienced less control than they had anticipated whereas those who had not participated in childbirth education classes experienced more than they expected.