This study examined locus of control in underachieving and achieving gifted grade 6, 7, 8 and 9 students. It was found that general locus of control measures did not differentiate between the two groups of students. However, underachievers and achievers both scored significantly higher on positive internal locus of control than on negative internal control. There were no gender or grade effects. This result needs to be replicated by further research since it was unexpected.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bar-TalD., & Bar-ZoharY. (1977). The relationship between perception of locus of control and academic achievement. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 2, 181–199.
2.
CollierR., JacobsonM., & StahlS. (1987). Locus of control measurements for gifted and nongifted children. Roeper Review, 9 (3), 196–200.
3.
CrandallV., KatkovskyW., & CrandallV. (1965). Children's beliefs in their control of reinforcements in intellectual academic achievement behaviors. Child Development, 36, 91–109.
4.
DavisH., & ConnellJ. (1985). The effects of aptitude and achievement status on the self-system. Gifted Child Quarterly, 29 (3), 131–136.
DukeM., & NowickiS. (1974). Locus of control and achievement: The confirmation of a theoretical expectation. Journal of Psychology, 87, 263–267.
7.
FinchamF., & BarlingJ. (1978). Locus of control and generosity in learning disabled, normal achieving, and gifted children. Child Development, 49, 530–533.
8.
GowanJ. (1955). The underachieving gifted child—a problem for everyone. Exceptional Children, 21, 247–49.
9.
KanoyR., JohnsonB., & KanoyK. (1980). Locus of control and self-concept in achieving and underachieving bright elementary students. Psychology in the Schools, 17 (3), 395–399.
10.
LefcourtH. (ed.). (1981). Research with the locus of control construct (vol. 1). New York: Academic Press.
11.
LefcourtH. (1982). Locus of control: Current trends in theory and research (2nd ed.). London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
12.
LefcourtH. (ed.). (1983). Research with the locus of control construct (vol. 3). New York: Academic Press.
13.
MesserS. (1972). The relation of internal-external control to academic performance. Child Development, 43, 1456–1462.
14.
MilgramN., & MilgramR. (1975). Dimensions of locus of control in children. Psychological Reports, 37, 523–538.
15.
PyrytM. (1986). Using discriminant analysis to identify gifted children. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, IX(3), 233–238.
