Nowicki Preschool and Primary Internal-External Control Scale – PPNSIE
Measures locus of control (internal vs. external reinforcement beliefs) in young children.
Scale Development & Technical Details
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 (ages 3-9).
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.
The scale includes 13 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 26. Interpretation guidelines:
- Highly Internal Locus of Control: 0 – 8
- Moderate/Mixed Locus of Control: 9 – 17
- Highly 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 Internal consistency typically ranges from .58 to .68.
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.