Work Locus of Control and Perceptions of Practice

Abstract

The literature suggests that perceptions of practice likely differ between workers with an external work locus of control (WLOC) and those with an internal WLOC. It was hypothesized that workers with an external WLOC are less likely to perceive that they positively influence clients, take less responsibility for client outcomes, feel less successful, place less importance on success in employment decisions, and have less confidence in their knowledge and skills than those with an internal WLOC. Statistical models using logistic regression confirmed these hypotheses except for confidence in knowledge and skills, which showed no relationship with WLOC.

KEYWORDS:

• work locus of control
• public child welfare
• work-force development

Notes

1. This article uses the terminology of external WLOC to describe a high score on the WLOC scale, which is a continuous scale. The use of this shorthand expression reflects the verbiage commonly used in the literature.

2. Analogous to what was stated in footnote 1, internal WLOC is a shorthand way to describe a low score on the WLOC scale, which is a continuous scale.