PROBLEM
Rotter's ( * ) I-E Scale presumably estimates the degree to which a person believes that his destiny is within his own control. I n accordance with Rotter's position, most investigators have used the scale with the assumption that it measures one, unidimensional, bipolar factor-perception of locus of control as internal or external.
A number of investigators have challenged this assumption. Gurin, Gurin, Lao, and Beattie@), in their examination of the motivational dynamics of Negro youth, found three factors associated with the I-E Scale: Personal Control, Control Ideology, and System Modifiability. However, Gurin, et al. added items of a political and racial nature to the I-E Scale, which may have contributed t o a test-taking "set" in the situation. R4irels(7) also found that the structure breaks down under factor analysis. He found essentially the same system modifiability factor as did Gurin, et al., but found only one other clearcut factor-personal locus of control. He explains the dimensions in terms of focus of control, one dimension that deals with the individual and the other that deals with the political and social systems as sources of control.
An attempt to replicate the findings of these two studies with a different population resulted in limited support for both the Gurin, et al. report and for R4irels' findings, which indicated the need for further definitive study.
While these and other such studies@) lead to the generally accepted conclusion that there is more than one factor associated with the I-E Scale, a clearly definitive *This investigation was supported by Research and Development Center for Teacher Education, United States Office of Education Contract No. OE6-10-108.