Test-questionnaire of the level of subjective control (USC) by J. Rotter

Questionnaire for studying the level of subjective control (USC)

The level of subjective control is a generalized personality characteristic that manifests itself in a similar way in different situations. Psychologists believe that the level of subjective control is associated with a person’s sense of responsibility for what is happening “here and now,” as well as for long-term consequences, i.e., with social maturity and individual independence. For the first time, diagnostic methods for such personality characteristics were tested in the 60s in the USA. The most famous among them is the locus of control scale, developed by J.B. Rotter. This scale is based on the premise that all people are divided into two types - internals and externals - depending on how they evaluate what causes various events in their lives and who is responsible for them. Each person can be assessed on an “internality-externality” scale . Internals have an internal locus of control, externals have an external one. The differences between the two types of localization of control can be significant from the point of view of the success of professional activity (the internal locus of control significantly correlates with the index of professional success). Read more in the article Study of the level of subjective control

Questionnaire for studying the level of subjective control (USC)

Instructions: You are offered 44 statements that describe different ways a person interprets the most common social situations. Read each statement carefully, rate the degree to which you agree or disagree, and fill in the answer sheet with the number corresponding to your choice:

+3 - completely agree +2 - agree +1 - rather agree than disagree -1 - rather disagree than agree -2 - disagree -3 - completely disagree

Try to use the full range of estimates.

Answer form _______________________________________________ Last name, first name, patronymic

Processing the results

Processing of testing results is carried out in several stages. The number corresponding to the choice determines the number of points received for each answer. First, with the help of keys, points are calculated on each scale (by simple summation). In this case, points for answers to questions with a “+” sign are summed up with their sign, and for questions with a “–” sign - with the opposite sign.

Keys to scales

1. Scale of general internality (Io)

2. Scale of internality in the field of achievements (ID)

3. Scale of internality in the field of failures (In)

4. Internality scale in the field of family relations (IS)

5. Scale of internality in the field of industrial relations (IP)

6. Internality scale in the field of interpersonal relations (Im)

7. Internality scale in relation to health and illness (From)

As a result of calculating points for each of the scales, so-called “raw” points are obtained, which must be converted into standard scores (walls). To do this, use a special table.

Table for converting raw scores into standard scores

Click image for a larger view

The received assessments within the walls are entered into the table:

Final table of results

The results expressed in walls are compared with the norm (5.5 walls). An indicator above 5.5 points indicates an internal type of control in this area, below 5.5 - about an external one.

The results can also be presented as a graph or as a profile.

Example of USC chart

USK profile example

Interpretation of the results obtained

Psychologically, a person with a high level of subjective control has emotional stability, perseverance, determination, sociability, high self-control and restraint. A person with low subjective control is emotionally unstable, prone to informal behavior, uncommunicative, has poor self-control and high tension.

General internality scale (Io). A high score on this scale corresponds to a high level of subjective control over any significant situations. Such people believe that most important events in their lives are the result of their own actions, that they can control them. They feel their own responsibility for these events and for how their lives turn out in general. Subjects with a low level of subjective control do not see a connection between their actions and life events that are significant to them. They do not consider themselves capable of controlling their development and believe that most events are the result of chance or the actions of other people.

Achievement Internality Scale (Id). A high score on this scale corresponds to a high level of subjective control over emotionally positive events and situations. Such people believe that they themselves have achieved everything that was and is in their lives, and that they are able to successfully achieve their goals in the future. A low score on the scale indicates that a person attributes his successes and achievements to circumstances - luck, good fortune, or the help of other people.

Internality scale in the field of failures (In). A high score on this scale reflects a developed sense of subjective control in relation to negative events and situations, which manifests itself in a tendency to blame oneself for various troubles and suffering. A low score indicates that the subject is inclined to attribute responsibility for such events to other people or consider them the result of bad luck.

Internality scale in the field of family relations (Is). A high Is score means that a person considers himself responsible for the events occurring in his family life. A low Is score indicates that the subject considers his partners responsible for situations that arise in his family.

Internality scale in the field of industrial relations (Ip). A high score on this scale indicates that a person relies mainly on himself to organize his production activities. He believes that he can influence his relationships with colleagues, manage them and be responsible for them; thinks that his professional career and promotion depend more on himself than on other people or external forces. A low score indicates that a person tends not to take responsibility for his professional successes and failures. Such a person believes that it is not he himself, but someone else - his superiors, colleagues, luck, etc. - who determine everything that happens to him in this area.

Internality scale in the field of interpersonal relations (Im). A high Im score indicates that a person considers himself able to control his formal and informal relationships with other people, to command respect and sympathy. A low score , on the contrary, indicates that a person cannot actively form his social circle and is inclined to consider his interpersonal relationships as the result of the activity of his partners.

Scale of internality in relation to health and illness (Iz). A high rate indicates that the subject considers himself responsible for his health: if he is sick, he blames himself for it and believes that recovery largely depends on his actions. A person with a low score on this scale considers illness to be the result of chance and hopes that recovery will come as a result of the actions of others, primarily doctors.

For professional diagnostics, the most informative are the results on the scale of internality in industrial relations (IP). Results on other scales make it possible to construct a multidimensional profile. Since most people are characterized by more or less wide variability in behavior depending on specific social situations, the characteristics of subjective control can also change in a person depending on whether the situation seems complex or simple, pleasant or unpleasant, etc.

The level of subjective control increases as a result of psychological correction. It should be remembered that internals prefer non-directive methods of psychological correction; and externals, as individuals with increased anxiety and prone to depression, are subjectively more satisfied with behavioral methods.

Beck questionnaire

Theoretical basis

For the method of cognitive orientation, it is important that externals have weaker motivation than internals, and hence the tendency to conformism and dependence. There is a positive correlation between internality and the determination of the meaning of life: the more a subject believes that everything in his life depends on his personal efforts and abilities, the more often he finds meaning in his own life and the better he sees its goals.

For supporters of behavioral theory and behavior researchers, it is interesting that analysis of the structure of the locus of control makes it possible to discover the direction of an individual’s action, predicting the conditions that promote or interfere with this, and the dependence of behavior on reinforcements.

When working with antisocial groups, the technique can be used to identify anxious, maladjusted adolescents with an external locus of control. This will help to provide them with timely assistance before the state of prolonged stress leads them to commit illegal acts or suicide attempts. There is evidence of a greater tendency of externals to deceive and commit immoral acts. The connection between the level of subjective control and the behavior of adolescents and young people in criminogenic and post-criminogenic situations is also considered.

In management psychology, the differences between internal and external personalities can be used; they can turn out to be significant from the point of view of their professional activity. For example, externals are characterized by greater susceptibility to manipulation, they are more compliant and sensitive to the opinions and assessments of others. In general, externalizing individuals appear to be good performers who work effectively under the control of other people. Internals, unlike externals, work more productively not in a team, but alone. They are more active in searching for information. In addition, internal personalities cope better with work that requires initiative. They are more decisive, self-confident, principled in interpersonal relationships, and are not afraid to take risks. Research shows that internal leaders are able to successfully exercise directive leadership. Internal and external personalities also differ in other features, for example, self-esteem. People with an internal locus of control think of themselves as kind, sociable, friendly, determined, calm, honest, and self-sufficient. And people with an external locus of control consider themselves dependent, irritable, dependent, selfish, indecisive, unsure of themselves, and hostile to the environment.

The identification of a personal characteristic that describes the extent to which a person feels like an active subject of his own activity, and to what extent he feels like a passive object of the actions of other people and external circumstances, is justified by existing empirical research and can contribute to further study of a wide range of problems in general and especially applied personality psychology Moreover, the subject of psychological analysis is increasingly becoming the subject of various forms of voluntary activity of the individual, his everyday consciousness, types of explanation of the world around him, worldviews, and a person’s attitude towards his destiny.

Variants of this test have been developed for adults, schoolchildren and even preschoolers. There is also a version for national minorities. All of these options underwent thorough psychometric testing during their creation. For the original version, reliability testing was carried out by splitting the test and repeating it after 2 months. This check showed that the test is quite reliable. The same can be said about its validity.

So, according to research, people with a predominance of internal locus of control are more self-confident, calm, positive, they have easier interpersonal relationships, and they are more independent. People with an external locus of control are characterized by increased anxiety, less tolerance towards others, and less popularity and conformity.

Processing the results

The results are processed in several stages:

1. Using the key, “raw” points are calculated for each scale:

The number corresponding to the choice determines the number of points received for each answer. In this case, points for answers to questions with a “+” sign are summed up with their sign, and for questions with a “–” sign - with the opposite sign.

Key

2. “Raw” points are converted (Σ) into walls.

Table for converting raw scores into standard scores

3. The received assessments within the walls are entered into the table:

Final table of results

The results can also be presented as a graph or as a profile.

Example graph

Example profile