Rotter's (1966) IE scale forces choices between statements expressing internal locus of control and those expressing external locus of control. However, the statements appear also to differ in the confidence they convey that desired outcomes will occur. Subjects in Study 1 viewed bogus responses agreeing or disagreeing with either internal or external statements from the IE scale. Agreement with internal items (compared to disagreement) was seen as implying confidence that desired outcomes would occur. Disgreement with external items (compared to agreement) was seen as implying confidence that desired outcomes would occur. Subjects in Study 2 rated their own agreement with either internal or external items and their confidence of the desired outcomes. Agreement with internal items was positively related to confidence about the outcomes, agreement with external items was unrelated to confidence. Discussion focuses on theoretical implications.
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