Achievement Motivation and the Locus of Control of Children with Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders

Abstract

The Children's Locus of Control Scale was administered to 48 children with learning and behavior problems and 48 normal children. No significant difference in performance was found. The experimental group, divided randomly into three groups, was given Digit Symbol, Coding, and NIM Test under three different motivational conditions. The data analysis revealed the following: (1) On the Coding Test, the performance of the group with higher scores on the CLCS was significantly better than that of the group with lower scores (p <.01). (2) On the Digit Symbol Test, an interaction effect between the level of locus of control and success-failure experience was found (p <.05). Implications of the findings and suggestions for further research are discussed.