Modified Work Locus of Control Scale – MWLOCS
Measures an employee's work-related locus of control across three dimensions: Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Modified Work Locus of Control Scale – MWLOCS was developed by Gupchup, G. V., & Wolfgang, A. P. (1997). It is designed to measure Work Locus of Control. The scale is intended for use with Working adults / employees.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Internal, Powerful Others, Chance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 1,2,3,4,7,11,14,15,16,19 | 10 |
| Powerful Others | 8,10,12,17 | 4 |
| Chance | 5,6,9,13,18,20 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Internal Subscale Score Range (Higher scores indicate stronger internal work locus of control): 10 – 50
- Powerful Others Subscale Score Range (Higher scores indicate stronger belief that powerful others control work outcomes): 4 – 20
- Chance Subscale Score Range (Higher scores indicate stronger belief that chance/luck controls work outcomes): 6 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha values: Internal (0.75), Powerful Others (0.67), Chance (0.71).
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.