Locus of Control as Moderator between Job Characteristics and Job Attitudes

The importance of locus of control as moderator between job characteristics and job attitudes was investigated. Rotter's I-E Scale, Hackman and Oldham's Job Diagnostic Survey, and several work-outcome measures were administered to a sample of 1,812 teachers. The results showed that internally scoring subjects ( N = 702) perceived their jobs to be more enriched (in terms of five core-job dimensions) and held more positive attitudes (job satisfaction, job motivation, job involvement, participation in decision making, work alienation, and experienced powerlessness) than externally scoring subjects ( N = 568). Correlations between job and personal work outcomes were significantly stronger for externally oriented than for internally oriented subjects in 17 of the 36 relationships examined; because correlations were small to moderate in size, alternative explanations for the findings were discussed.