Locus of Control Beliefs in Male and Female Indian and White Schoolchildren in South Africa

Abstract

The present study investigated locus of control differences in male and female Indian and White third-grade children in South Africa. Using the Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale for children as the dependent variable, a 2 x 2 (Race x Sex) analysis of variance revealed no significant differences on a global locus of control index. However, Indian children were significantly more internal than their White counterparts on both the Helplessness and Achievement factors, although no significant differences were yielded on the Luck factor. In addition, neither significant sex main effects nor any interaction effects emerged on any of the three factors. Differences between the two cultural groups are discussed in terms of their relative positions in South African society, and the possible utility of a multidimensional approach to locus of control in cross-cultural research is evaluated.