This study examined the effects of perceived locus of control and mental practice on dart throwing. The participants were high school students selected on the basis of their scores on the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale. Of 130 students tested, the 40% with the most extreme internal and external scores were selected and pretested for dart-throwing accuracy. They were then randomly assigned to either a mental practice or no-practice control group. Following four days of mental practice for that group, all participants were again tested for accuracy. Mental practice produced a significant improvement in accuracy but almost exclusively for participants with an internal locus of control.
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