The psychometric validation of the new questionnaire for measuring locus of control among adolescents

Cilj provedenog istraživanja bila je psihometrijska validacija upitnika za mjerenje lokusa kontrole kod adolescenata, odnosno ispitivanje njegove faktorske strukture te konvergentne i kriterijske valjanosti. Istraživanje je provedeno na 165 učenika gimnazije i obrtničke škole u Koprivnici. Korišteni su sljedeći instrumenti: Upitnik zamjerenje lokusa kontrole kod adolescenata (LKA), Rosenbergova skala samopoštovanja te Multidimenzionalna skala lokusa kontrole. Provedena faktorska analiza sugerira postojanje generalnog faktora u pozadini upitnika te je faktorskom analizom objašnjeno 58% varijance. Upitnik zadovoljava psihometrijske kriterije – pouzdanost je visoka, osjetljivost je zadovoljavajuća te se ukupni rezultati distribuiraju normalno. Upitnik LKA značajno, ali razmjerno nisko, korelira sa sve tri subskale Multidimenzionalne skale lokusa kontrole i općom procjenom lokusa kontrole. Korelacija između upitnika LKA i Rosenbergove skale samopoštovanja statistički je značajna, kao i korelacija upitnika LKA i općeg uspjeha u školi. Učenici su procjenjivali da su pojedine domene života u većoj mjeri pod njihovom kontrolom, u odnosu na učenice. Učenici gimnazije i učenici obrtničke škole ne razlikuju se na ukupnom rezultatu upitnika LKA, no razlike u pojedinim domenama postoje. Učenici nižih razreda procjenjivali su svoj doživljaj kontrole višim u odnosu na učenike viših razreda, na ukupnom rezultatu na skali te na nekoliko specifičnih domena života. Rezultati ukazuju na potencijalne prednosti upitnika LKA nad ostalim mjerama lokusa kontrole, te omogućuju stjecanje dubljeg uvida u doživljaj kontrole adolescenata u različitim domenama života te uvid u hijerarhiju tih domena.The aim of this study was the psychometric validation of the new questionnaire for measuring locus of control among adolescents, its factor structure, convergent and criterion validity. The study was conducted on 165 students of gymnasium and crafts school in Koprivnica. The following instruments were used: Questionnaire for measuring locus of control among adolescents (LCA), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Levenson's Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale. The factor analysis suggested the existence of a general factor in the background of the scale. Factor analysis explained 58% of variance. All psychometric criteria of the questionnaire are complied - the reliability is high, the sensitivity is good and the total scores are distributed normally. Furthermore, relationships between LCA questionnaire and three subscales of the Levenson's scale are significant, but weak, as well as relationship between LCA questionnaire and general evaluation of the locus of control. The correlation between LCA questionnaire and Rosenberg's self-esteem scale is statistically significant, as well as the correlation between the LKA questionnaire and overall academic success. Male students have evaluated that some domains of life are to a greater extent under their control, compared to female students. High school students and crafts students do not differ on the total score of the LKA questionnaire, but there are statistically significant differences in specific domains. Furthermore, younger students have evaluated their control higher in relation to senior students on the total score and on several domains of life. This research has highlighted the advantage of the LKA questionnaire over other measures of locus of control. It enables a deeper insight into the adolescent control experience in different domains of life and obtaining a hierarchy of domains