PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Marina K. Ohlson

MA-Research
May 2003

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Locus of Control in Asian American and European American Students

    This study examined the relationship between culture and personality, and specifically investigated whether Asian versus European American students differed in locus of control beliefs.  It was hypothesized that European American students would have a more internal LOC while Asian Americans would have a more external LOC.  A total of 83 respondents (45 Asian/Asian American, 38 European American) completed Rotter’s I-E Scale, the ANSIE scale and Levenson’s IPC scales.  The results supported many, but not all, of the ethnic differences that were expected.  Overall, analyses suggested that differences in locus beliefs were present between ethnic groups.  Statistically significant differences were found on the I-E scale, the ANSIE, and Levenson’s Chance scale.  Finally, factor analyses showed that the ethnic groups did not differ in the number of factors they saw to underlie locus beliefs.  Moreover, results suggested that locus beliefs were best conceptualized as a multi-dimensional rather than a uni-dimensional construct.

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