Locus of control and generosity in learning disabled, normal achieving, and gifted children

Locus of control and generosity were investigated in 3 groups of children varying in academic achievement, namely, the learning disabled, normal achieving, and gifted. 34 9- and 10-year-old males were administered in dividually the shortened Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale and a donation task. An analysis of covariance and subsequent t tests for adjusted means revealed significant differences between all the groups, with learning disabled the most, and gifted the least, externally oriented. In addition, generosity was found to correlate significantly with internal-external control. The implications for special education, and resulting research priorities, are discussed.