Abstract:

The aim of this research is to examine the psychometric properties of the Academic Locus of Control Scale (Akın, 2007) in adolescence. The research was conducted with 587 (301 + 286) adolescents in total. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) of sampling adequacy was calculated as .72 and a significant result was found on Bartlett’s test of Sphericity χ= 561.619 (p< .001, df = 136). Results confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that 17 items yielded two factors as original form and that the two-dimensional model was appropriate (χ² = 697.06, df =392, RMSEA= .059, GFI = .94, CFI = .93, AGFI = .92 and SRMR = .047). Factor loadings ranged from .32 to .88. Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient was found as .71,5 for internal academic locus of control sub-scale, .81 for external academic locus of control sub-scale. In the concurrent validity significant relationships were found between academic locus of control, locus of control, student responsibility, and student responsibility. Test-retest reliability coefficient was as .81 for internal academic locus of control and .79 for external academic locus of control. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .41 to .81. Overall results demonstrated that the Academic Locus of Control Scale can be named as a valid and reliable instrument that could be used in the field of education with adolescents.

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