Further Considerations of the Multidimensionality and Factor Structure of the Rotter Locus of Control Scale

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine the number and nature of factors involved in Rotter's I-E Scale and to examine the question of the multidimensionality of the scale. Subjects were 329 college undergraduates. Principal components analysis was performed on the 23 pertinent items of the scale, followed by Varimax rotation. Multiple criteria indicated a 10-factor solution which accounted for 61% of the total variance. The first two factors were strongly similar to those reported previously. Results support Rotter's (1975) contention that subclasses within the scale will vary from sample to sample.