Scale Overview
The Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children – N-SLOC was developed by Stephen Nowicki Jr. & Bonnie R. Strickland (1973). It is designed to measure Locus of Control. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents (grades 3-12).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 40 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
The scale includes 16 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Internal Locus of Control (High belief in personal control): 0 – 15
- Moderate Locus of Control (Mixed belief in personal control and external factors): 16 – 25
- External Locus of Control (High belief in fate, luck, or powerful others): 26 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Internal consistency ranges from .63 to .81 depending on grade level..
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.