Scale Overview
The Children’s Health Locus of Control Scale (CHLOCS) was developed by Guy S. Parcel (1977). It is designed to measure Health Locus of Control. The scale is intended for use with Children (ages 7-12).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Internal, External – Chance, External – Powerful Others.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Internal |
2,9,11,16,19,20 |
6 |
| External – Chance |
1,3,5,6,10 |
5 |
| External – Powerful Others |
4,7,8,12,13,14,15,17,18 |
9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
The scale includes 14 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Internal Health Locus of Control (High External Beliefs): 0 – 7
- Moderate Internal Health Locus of Control: 8 – 13
- High Internal Health Locus of Control: 14 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.68 to 0.72.
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.