The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effectiveness of assertive training as a mode of intervention for altering college students' perceptions of the locus of control of reinforcement. Effects of sex and sex and treatment interaction on perceptions of internal-external control were also studied.One measure of the control construct as a personality variable is the Rotter I-E scale. This instrument may be used to distribute individuals along a continuum with regard to whether they perceive themselves as possessing or lacking control over what happens to them and the degree to which they accept responsibility for their behavior and life experiences. The end points of this continuum are labeled internal and external control orientations. Internally oriented individuals perceive reinforcements as contingent upon their personal behavior. Both positive and negative life experiences are, therefore, believed to be consequences of one's actions. On the other end of the continuum are individuals who are externally oriented. These individuals perceive reinforcements to be unrelated to their personal behavior and, therefore, beyond personal control and responsibility. Measures of the control construct have been shown to correlate with some consistency with indices of anxiety and adjustment. Internals appeared to have less debilitating anxiety and to be better adjusted according to selected measures of adjustment. In addition, these individuals tended to describe themselves in more positive terms on self-report inventories than did externals.Researchers in the area of assertive training have reported that no relationship between assertive behavior and control orientation has. been found. The intent of this study was to focus upon that aspect of assertive training which stresses the importance of increasing individuals' behavioral repertoires so that they have a choice about how they behave. It was hypothesized that an emphasis upon the element of choice, and the resultant importance of accepting personal responsibility for that choice, would affect alterations in perceptions of locus of control.Sixty-two undergraduate college students enrolled in either of two sections on Human Growth and Development at a Midwest university were the population for the research. The final sample of 62 students completed the Rotter I-E scale and were randomly assigned within their section to either an assertive training or treatment control group. Two treatment and two treatment control groups resulted. The treatment control groups met during the same time period as the respective assertive training group for the purpose of class-related film-discussions. All groups met for six consecutive weeks during the time regularly scheduled for the section. In the seventh week, the Rotter I-E scale was readministered to all subjects.An analysis of covariance, using pretest scores on the Rotter I-E scale as the covariate, was conducted to determine the effects of treatment, sex, and treatment and sex interaction on perception of locus of control as measured by adjusted posttest scores on the I-E scale. Based upon this analysis, the researcher reached the following conclusions:1. Assertive training had no significant effect upon undergraduate college students' perceptions of internal versus external locus of control.2. Sex had no significant effect upon undergraduate college students' perceptions of internal versus external locus of control.3. Interaction of treatment and sex had no significant effect upon undergraduate college students' perceptions of internal versus external locus of control.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/179472 |
| Date | January 1976 |
| Creators | Pearre, Donna Alexandra |
| Contributors | Baumann, Karen S. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 139 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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