Internal versus external control of reinforcement and decision time.

Abstract

Previous research has shown generality of individual differences in an expectancy that reinforcement is contingent on one's own behavior (internal control) versus an expectancy that reinforcement is determined by luck, chance, fate or powerful others (external control). The hypothesis was investigated that "internals" and "externals" differ in the value placed on the same reward depending upon whether it is perceived as contingent upon chance or skill. To test this, decision time was measured in a difficult matching task, and described to ½ the Ss as skill, and to ½ as chance determined. Results show significant interaction between internal-external control and chance vs. skill instructions. As hypothesized, internals take longer with skill instructions, externals with chance instructions. The study extends the construct validity of the internal-external control variable and has implications for personality, cultural differences, and decision theory. (23 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)