Scale Overview
The Nowicki Preschool and Primary Internal-External Control Scale – PPNSIE was developed by Stephen Nowicki Jr. & Marshall P. Duke (1974). It is designed to measure Locus of Control. The scale is intended for use with Preschool and primary school children.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 34 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Locus of Control, Social Desirability.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Locus of Control |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,16,17,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,30,32,34 |
26 |
| Social Desirability |
13,15,18,19,24,29,31,33 |
8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 26. Interpretation guidelines:
- Internal Locus of Control: 0 – 8
- Intermediate Locus of Control: 9 – 17
- External Locus of Control: 18 – 26
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.