Communication Locus of Control Scale

Abstract

The Communication Locus of Control Scale (CLCS) is an 18-item Psychological Scale designed to measure an individual’s perceived control over their communication outcomes. Developed by J. P. Hamilton in 1991, this instrument assesses whether individuals attribute success or failure in communication situations to internal factors (personal effort, skill, or ability) or external factors (luck, fate, or audience variables). It utilizes a 4-point Likert Scale format, providing researchers and practitioners a domain-specific measure of attribution theory applied to human interaction.

Keywords

Communication Locus of Control, Locus of Control, Public Speaking Anxiety, Communication Competence, Attribution Theory, Self-efficacy.

Authors

J. P. Hamilton

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the CLCS is to provide a specific measure for the generalized concept of Locus of Control within the domain of human Communication. This specificity allows researchers to better predict and understand an individual’s motivation, persistence, and behavior in communicative tasks, particularly those involving public speaking, interpersonal interactions, and group dynamics.

By determining whether a person holds an Internal Locus of Control (believing they control communicative outcomes) or an External Locus of Control (believing outcomes are due to external forces like luck or the audience), the scale offers valuable diagnostic information for communication training and intervention programs aimed at improving perceived competence and reducing communication apprehension.

Construct

The CLCS measures the degree to which an individual perceives a causal relationship between their own communicative behavior and the resulting outcomes. This construct, known as domain-specific Locus of Control, posits two primary orientations regarding communication success and failure:

• Internal Orientation: Individuals with an internal orientation believe that communicative success or failure is primarily attributable to their own effort, skill, preparation, and control over their delivery. They take personal responsibility for the outcome.
• External Orientation: Individuals with an external orientation attribute communicative outcomes to factors beyond their personal control, such as fate, luck, the complexity of the situation, the characteristics of the message receiver, or environmental constraints.

The scale items are formulated to differentiate between these two orientations, reflecting the core tenets of attribution theory as applied to communication behavior.

Validity

The scale’s validity was assessed during its initial development through rigorous psychometric procedures. Content validity was ensured by basing items directly on established theoretical models of attribution and communication competence, reviewed by experts in the field. Construct validity was established by correlating CLCS scores with existing measures of related constructs, such as generalized Locus of Control scales (e.g., Rotter’s I-E Scale) and instruments measuring communication apprehension or self-efficacy.

Research confirms that the CLCS demonstrates adequate discriminant validity, confirming that while it is related to generalized Locus of Control, it measures a distinct, communication-specific dimension. Consistently, higher internal CLCS scores are associated with higher reported communication competence, greater willingness to initiate communication, and lower communication avoidance behaviors, supporting its theoretical foundation.

Reliability

The CLCS has generally demonstrated strong internal consistency across various samples. The original development study by Hamilton (1991) reported high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, indicating that the 18 items reliably measure the underlying construct. These reliability estimates typically meet or exceed the acceptable standard (generally above .70) required for research instruments in social science and psychology.

Furthermore, studies investigating the temporal stability of the measure have confirmed satisfactory test-retest reliability. This suggests that an individual’s communication locus of control orientation is a relatively stable, enduring trait characteristic, rather than a transient state dependent on immediate situational factors.

Factor Analysis

The internal structure of the CLCS was examined using Factor Analysis to ensure alignment with the theoretical construct. While the scale is often scored as a single continuum ranging from Internal to External control, the factor structure typically supports a multi-dimensional conceptualization, consistent with Rotter’s initial work.

Specifically, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses generally identify two primary, correlated factors corresponding to the internal attribution items and the external attribution items. This bi-factorial structure confirms that the 18 items effectively capture both the belief in personal agency and the belief in external forces influencing communication outcomes.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report, Trait Measure

Format: 18 items rated on a 4-point Likert Scale.

Language Available: Primarily English

Population Group: Adults and College Students

Age Group: 18+

Population Details: Originally validated primarily on undergraduate students enrolled in communication and psychology courses.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with statements concerning the causes of their communication success or failure using the following options: Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D), and Strongly Disagree (SD).

Keywords

Attribution, Communication Apprehension, Self-efficacy, Public Speaking, Internal Control, External Control.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and published in 1991. The instrument is generally available for use in academic and non-commercial research settings. For full details regarding scoring, interpretation, and commercial application, researchers should consult the original publication or contact the author. The original PDF describing the instrument and its development can be downloaded here: http://cart.rmcdenver.com/instruments/communication_locus.pdf

Reference’s

Hamilton‚ J. P. (1991). The Development of a Communication Specific Locus of Control Instrument. Communication Reports‚ 4 (2), 101-107.

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Items of the Communication Locus of Control Scale

Below is an explanation of the categories of agreement and disagreement:

• SA = strongly agree with the statement
• A = agree with the statement
• D = disagree with the statement
• SD = strongly disagree with the statement