Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Education

First Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Second Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Third Advisor

Julia Willecke

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between external locus of control and test anxiety in late adolescence. Locus of control was measured through the I,P,C scale based on Hanna Levenson's (1974) theory. Test anxiety was assessed through the use of the State Trait Anxiety Scale as developed by Speilberger ( 1970). The research focused on the state, or situational anxiety experienced as the result of the announcement of a pending test. The hypothesis stated that those exhibiting characteristics of external locus of control (powerful others and chance) will exhibit some form of test anxiety. The sample used for this research was comprised of 41 students from a private, Catholic, Midwest high school. Students were subjected to the announcement of an upcoming examination before taking the instruments, in order to assess the level of anxiety introduced by the experience of test taking. The Pearson r was computed to indicate the degree of a relationship between State anxiety and Powerful Others and State Anxiety and Chance. Results revealed a negative correlation between State Anxiety and both belief in Powerful Others and Chance.

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