The construct validity of Schepers' locus of control inventory for black and white tertiary students

Abstract

Popular criticism is that psychometric instruments, based largely on middle-class White values, knowledge and culture are biased and less valid for other population groups. It is therefore important that the testing of persons with highly dissimilar backgrounds receive greater attention. In this study the LCI of Schepers was applied to Black and White tertiary students to determine the construct validity of the instrument for different cultural groups. It was found that there is evidence of differences in the construct validity of the LCI for the Black (n=376) and White (n=374) groups. The item discrimination values, scale reliabilities and factor structures revealed that the three hypothesised constructs, namely external locus of control, internal locus of control and autonomy underlying the LCI, were confirmed for the White group but not for the Black group. OPSOMMING: Die algemene kritiek teen psigometriese instrumente wat grootliks op Blanke waardes, kennis en kultuur gebaseer is, is dat die instrumente sydig en minder geldig vir ander populasiegroepe mag wees. Dit is dus belangrik dat sydigheids- en geldigheidsaspekte veral aandag geniet by die toetsing van persone uit verskillende kultuurgroepe. In hierdie studie is die LVB van Schepers op Swart en Blanke tersiêre studente toegepas om die konstrukgeldigheid van die instrument vir verskillende kultuurgroepe te bepaal. Die resultate dui daarop dat die konstrukgeldigheid van die LVB vir die Swart (n=376) en Blanke (n=374) groepe verskil. Die item-diskriminasiewaardes, skaalbetroubaarhede en faktorstrukture dui daarop dat die drie konstrukte waaruit die LVB bestaan, naamlik ‘n eksterne lokus van kontrole, ‘n interne lokus van kontrole en outonomie vir die Blanke groep bevestig is, maar nie vir die Swart groep nie.