Previous investigators have reported that the Rotter I-E scale (1966) may measure many dimensions rather than a unidimensional trait. Following Collins (1974), each of the 23 forced-choice internal and external alternatives of the I-E scale were separated and administered as 46 Likert-scale items. The Likert-format administration was equivalent to the original method. Principal factors analysis and varimax rotation yielded five factors: belief in a nonrational world, belief in a politically unresponsive world, belief in a predictable world, belief in a just world, and belief in the meaningfulness of personal effort. These factors are similar to those reported by Collins.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CollinsE.Four components of the Rotter internal-external scale: Belief in a difficult world, a just world, a predictable world, and a politically responsive world. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 29, 381–391.
2.
HarmanH. H.Modern factor analysis. Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1967.
3.
MirelsH. L.Dimensions of internal versus external control. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1970, 34, 226–228.
4.
RotterJ. B.Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 1966, 80, No. 1 (Whole No. 609).
