FACTOR STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY OF A LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION

The purpose of the present study was to examine the factor structure a nd construct validity of the Adult version of the Nowicki-Strickland I nternal-External Scale (ANS-IE) with 409 adolescents and adults with m ental retardation. Test scores were factor analyzed by gender, yieldin g a 6-factor solution for females and an 8-factor solution for males. There was a great deal of similarity on factor themes between genders, and similarity between previous analyses of the ANS-IE. Scores for ma les loaded heavily for factors pertaining to hard work, luck, and pers onal control. Those for females loaded most heavily on factors pertain ing to helplessness, luck, and futility. The scores correlated moderat ely with conceptually related measures. Questions were raised pertaini ng to the degree to which individuals responded in an acquiescent mann er. The utility of the tool for special educators and practitioners is discussed.