Brown Locus of Control Scale

Abstract

The Brown Locus of Control Scale (BLOCS) is a 25-item psychometric instrument designed to measure an individual’s generalized expectancies regarding the control over outcomes in their life. Developed by R. Brown, the scale refines the traditional internal-external dichotomy by incorporating three distinct, orthogonal dimensions of perceived control: Internal Control (personal efficacy), External Social Control (influence by groups or powerful others), and External Other Control (influence by chance, fate, or abstract forces). This multidimensional approach allows for a more nuanced assessment of attribution, particularly highlighting the role of social interaction in perceived external control.

Keywords

Brown Locus of Control Scale, BLOCS, Locus of Control, Internal Control, External Control, Psychological Assessment, Social Control, Fate, Reliability, Validity.

Authors

R. Brown, G. A. Marcoulides.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the BLOCS is to provide a comprehensive and differentiated assessment of the Locus of Control construct. By separating external control into two distinct components—social and non-social—the scale addresses limitations found in earlier, more unidimensional measures. This separation is crucial for research examining how social dynamics and perceived power structures impact an individual’s sense of control, distinct from fatalistic beliefs.

The scale is intended for use in academic and psychological research settings to analyze behaviors related to motivation, academic achievement, and adaptation. Its structure allows researchers to quantify the specific source of external attribution, offering detailed insight into the respondent’s psychological framework regarding personal agency versus environmental influence.

Construct

The BLOCS measures three core dimensions derived from the broader construct of Locus of Control, which refers to the extent to which individuals believe they can control events that affect them. The specific factors assessed are:

• Internal Control: Measures the belief that personal skills, effort, and determination are the primary determinants of life outcomes. High scorers believe they possess personal control and efficacy.
• External Social Control: Measures the belief that external outcomes are primarily dictated by social forces, powerful individuals, specific peer groups, or institutional structures. This component isolates control derived from social interaction aspects.
• External Other Control: Measures the belief that outcomes are determined by impersonal, abstract forces such as chance, luck, fate, or established traditional rules, rather than by personal action or specific social entities.

Validity

Substantial evidence supporting the scale’s validity, particularly its concurrent validity, is provided across numerous studies referenced in the 1990 publication by Brown. This research involved correlating the scores obtained from the BLOCS with various established psychological factors and external criteria.

The 1990 study specifically focused on establishing the construct and concurrent validity of the external social dimension, confirming that this factor operates independently and shows predicted relationships with related psychological constructs. The data reported represents a compilation of findings from multiple samples, demonstrating the consistency and robustness of the BLOCS across diverse research contexts.

Reliability

The reliability of the Brown Locus of Control Scale has been assessed through measures of internal consistency and temporal stability. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the three subscales:

• Internal Control: 0.74
• External Social Control: 0.71
• External Other Control: 0.66

Temporal stability was confirmed through test-retest reliability, measured over a two-week interval using a sample of 92 students. The resulting coefficients indicated high stability:

• Internal Control: 0.88
• External Social Control: 0.91
• External Other Control: 0.84

Factor Analysis

The multidimensional structure of the BLOCS was empirically supported by a Factor Analysis that confirmed a robust three-factor solution. This statistical outcome validates the theoretical decision to distinguish between internal control, external social control, and external other control.

The 25 items load clearly onto the following factors:

• Internal Control Items: 4, 9, 13, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 25.
• External Social Control Items: 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 23.
• External Other Control Items: 2, 3, 5, 12, 17, 18, and 24.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Measurement Scale

Format: 25 items administered via a 6-point Likert-type response scale.

Language Available: English (Primary validation). Cross-cultural studies have been conducted (Brown & Marcoulides, 1996).

Population Group: Adult and student populations.

Age Group: Primarily used with college and graduate-level students (young adult to adult).

Population Details: The initial 1983 validation sample consisted of 114 female graduate students. Subsequent publications incorporated data from five additional distinct samples, broadening the empirical foundation.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each item using the following scale: 6 = Very Strongly Agree; 5 = Strongly Agree; 4 = Agree; 3 = Disagree; 2 = Strongly Disagree; and 1 = Very Strongly Disagree. Each of the three scales is scored separately by summing the responses for the corresponding items. Direct comparisons between the scores of the three distinct scales are not recommended.

Keywords

Internal consistency, Test-retest, Graduate students, Attribution theory, Multidimensional control, Psychological scale development, Concurrent Validity.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: Initial scale development and study occurred in 1983. Key construct validation studies were published in 1990 and cross-cultural comparisons in 1996.

Permissions & Fee: Information regarding current commercial permissions, licensing fees, or authorized usage is not provided in the original academic entries. Researchers seeking to utilize the BLOCS should consult the original author, R. Brown, or the publisher of Educational and Psychological Measurement.

Reference’s

Brown, R. (1990). The construct and concurrent validity of the social dimension of the Brown Locus of Control Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement 50:377–82.

Brown, R. (1983). Locus of control and sex role orientation of women graduate students. College Student Journal 17:10–12.

Brown, R., and Marcoulides, G. A. (1996). A cross-cultural comparison of the Brown Locus of Control Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement 56:858–63.

Levenson, H. (1974). Activism and powerful others: Distinctions within the concept of an internal-external control. Journal of Personality Assessment 38:377–83.

Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal vs. external control of reinforcement. Psychological Reports 56:723–26.

Items of the Brown Locus of Control Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. My friendships depend on how well I relate to others.
2. Accidental happenings have a lot to do with my life.
3. Rules and practices that have been around for many years should determine what will happen to my life.
4. I am fairly able to determine what will happen to my life.
5. Religious faith will get me through hard times.
6. The government will run whether I get involved or not.
7. Getting ahead is a matter of pleasing people in power.
8. Generally it’s not what I know, but who I know.
9. I make mistakes—accidents just don’t happen.
10. Being in the right place at the right time is important for my success.
11. My friends often determine my actions.
12. The ideas about life that have been around since time began have an influence on my life.
13. Most of the time, I control what happens in my life.
14. Strong pressure groups determine my role in society.
15. My plans will not work unless they fit into the plans of those in power.
16. My close relationships with people don’t just happen—they need to be worked on.
17. Some powerful force or person predetermined most of what happens in my life.
18. My life is often affected by fate.
19. My actions determine my life.
20. Hard work will get me where I want to go.
21. I can generally take care of my personal interests.
22. I have to work with others to get a job done.
23. My ability without pleasing people in power makes little difference.
24. My life is often affected by luck.
25. I can usually carry out plans that I make for myself.