The construction of a normative scale of locus of control.

The primary objective of the study was to construct a normative scale of locus of control for use with students and adults. A corollary of the study was to establish the personality, interest and cognitive correlates of locus of control. Conceptually the instrument is based on attribution theory and on social learning theory. The first edition of the Locus of Control Inventory (LCI) was applied to 356 first-year university students during 1994. A factor analysis of the 65 items of the inventory yielded three factors. The factors were interpreted as Autonomy, Internal Control and External Control. Three scales, corresponding to the three factors, were constructed, and yielded reliability coefficients of 0,80; 0,77 and 0,81 respectively. Following this the cognitive, interest and personality correlates of the LCI were determined. The implications of the findings are discussed

The relationship between the fourth edition (2003) of the locus of control inventory and the sixteen personality factor.

The principal objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the fourth edition (2003) of the Locus of Control Inventory (LCI) and version 5 of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF). After some minor changes the LCI was applied jointly with the 16PF to a sample of 3089 first-year university students. Complete records were obtained in respect of 3033 participants for the LCI, and 2798 for both the 16PF and the LCI. An iterative principal factor analysis of the LCI was done. The three-factor-structure previously found was substantiated by the analysis. Highly acceptable reliabilities were obtained. The 16PF yielded six global factors with reliabilities that ranged from 0,721 to 0,861. Canonical correlations of 0,659; 0,455 and 0,322 were obtained between the three scales of the LCI and the primary factors of the 16PF

Some personality and cognitive correlates of career maturity.

The principal objective of this study was to determine the personality and cognitive correlates of career maturity. The sample comprised 1476 first-year students from different faculties at a South-African university. The Career Development Questionnaire was used to determine the career maturity levels of the respondents. Based on the scores in respect of the Career Development Questionnaire the respondents were divided into a career mature, a career immature and a middle group. These groups were then compared in respect of various personality and cognitive constructs. Statistically significant differences were found in respect of most of the personality constructs but not in terms of the cognitive constructs. The implications of the findings are discussed

The construction and evaluation of a scale of employee empowerment.

The purpose of this study was to construct and evaluate a scale of employee empowerment that may benefit organisational transformation. An Employee Empowerment Questionnaire consisting of 90 items was developed and administered to 164 respondents within a large metropolitan council. The study indicated that the Employee Empowerment Questionnaire is highly reliable (rxx=0,982) and sensitive to group differences

Rate of information processing and reaction time of aircraft pilots and non-pilots.

Reaction time and rate of information processing are cited as critical components in the make-up of pilots. A need was identified to establish the validity of various chronometric measures in the selection of pilots. Fifty-eight military and commercial pilots and twenty non-pilots were subjected to Schepers’ Computerised Information Processing Test Battery, which measures reaction time, form discrimination time, colour discrimination time, rate of information processing(perceptual) and rate of information processing (conceptual). Five hypotheses and one postulate were formulated and tested. The results indicate that pilots could be differentiated from non-pilots with 92,3% accuracy. However, the results need to be cross-validated before they are used for selection

Construction and evaluation of a scale of consumer shopping experience.

Generally speaking consumer psychology have focused primarily on the problem solving and decision making processes underlying buying behaviour. As a result, the experience of consumers engaging in the activity of shopping has been neglected. The purpose of this study was to construct and evaluate a scale of consumer shopping experience. The instrument indicated that shopping experience is not merely a means to an end, but in many cases an end in itself. The Shopping Experience Survey consisting of 54 items was developed and administered to 426 respondents consisting of students at a large tertiary institution. The study indicated that the Shopping Experience Survey is highly reliable (rxx=0,965) and sensitive to group differences

Locus of control in relation to flow.

The principal objective of the study was to examine the relationship between locus of control and optimal experience (flow) in carrying out work and/or study activities. Two questionnaires measuring the aforementioned constructs were administered to a group of first and second-year Human Resource Management students (n=168) between the ages of 16 and 30. The results suggest that more frequent experience of flow is positively correlated with Autonomy and Internal Locus of Control. Limitations, lines of future research, implications and further contributions are discussed

The factor structure, metrical properties, and convergent validity of the third edition (1999) of the Locus of Control Inventory.

The principal objective of the study was to examine the factor structure and metrical properties of the third edition (1999) of the Locus of Control Inventory (LCI). A corollary of the study was to examine the convergent validity of the instrument. After a thorough revision and extension of the scale to 88 items it was applied to a sample of 2091 first-year university students. Particular attention was paid to the shortcomings revealed in a study by de Bruin (2004). An iterative principal factor analysis of the scale was done. The three-factor-structure previously found was substantiated by the analysis. The obtained factors were interpreted as Autonomy, External Control and Internal Control. Highly acceptable reliabilities were obtained. As far as validity is concerned it was found that Internal Control and Autonomy are strongly related to Psychological Wellness and External Control negatively to Stress Management. The implications of the findings are discussed

The construction of a normative instrument for the measurement of moral reasoning

The main aim of this study was to construct a normative instrument for the measurement of different levels of moral reasoning. The sample comprised 426 undergraduate students in Industrial Psychology and Personnel Management from two Afrikaans speaking universities. A questionnaire was developed to measure different levels of moral reasoning on a normative scale. A factor analysis on 90 items yielded two factors. These factors were interpreted as principled moral reasoning and prescriptive moral reasoning. The two scales were subjected to an item analysis and yielded reliability coefficients of 0,936 and 0,937. The implications of these findings are discussed

The effect of Telfast® 180 on driver behaviour, decision-making and reaction time.

The principal objective of the study was to examine the effect of Telfast® 180, an antihistamine, on driver behaviour, decision-making, and reaction time. A sample of 255 volunteers participated in the study. The sample was randomly divided into two groups, viz. a placebo and a Telfast group. One of the groups received Telfast and the other a placebo. Initially all the participants were given a standardised driving test, as well as a psychomotor test. Immediately thereafter the placebo group received their placebo tablets and the Telfast group their Telfast tablets. Exactly 2,6 hours later every participant was tested again, using the same tests as before. No statistically significant differences were found between the Placebo group and the Telfast group. No sedative effects due to Telfast® 180 were thus evident