Locus of control factor structure in a British neurotic sample.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Locus of Control (LOC) construct measures an individual's perceived control over life events.
• The Reid & Ware scales offer a specific measure including self-control.
• Understanding LOC factors is crucial in clinical psychology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the factor structure of the Reid & Ware Locus of Control Scales.
• To determine if the scales' factors are replicable in a clinical population.
• To investigate the self-control, social system control, and chance dimensions within neurotic patients.

Main Methods:

• The Reid & Ware Locus of Control Scales were administered.
• The study involved 49 patients diagnosed with neurotic conditions.
• Factor analysis was implicitly used to examine the scale structure.

Main Results:

• The factor structure reported by Reid & Ware was closely replicated.
• The three identified factors were self-control, social system control, and chance.
• The scales demonstrated reliability in measuring these constructs in neurotic patients.

Conclusions:

• The Reid & Ware Locus of Control Scales appear to have a robust factor structure.
• The scales are suitable for assessing locus of control perceptions, including self-control, in neurotic populations.
• Replication supports the validity and utility of these scales in clinical settings.