Work Locus of Control Scale – WLCS
Measures an individual's belief regarding the control they have over their work environment and outcomes.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Work Locus of Control Scale – WLCS was developed by Paul E. Spector (1988). It is designed to measure Work Locus of Control. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Internal Locus of Control, External Locus of Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Locus of Control | 1,2,3,4,7,11,14,15,16,19 | 10 |
| External Locus of Control | 5,6,8,9,10,12,13,17,18,20 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Strong External Locus of Control: 20 – 46
- Moderate/Mixed Locus of Control: 47 – 73
- Strong Internal Locus of Control: 74 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.80 – 0.85.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.