Learned helplessness attributional scale (LHAS): Development and validation of an attributional style measure

Research illustrates that attribution theory holds untapped potential for researching problems in management and social science. This potential exists partly due to the lack of a concise measurement instrument. Previous measures, though suitable for their respective tasks, each come with a set of limitations. We suggest that one of these limitations, namely psychometric issues, may be a factor inhibiting use of attribution theory in the business domain. In answer to the call to increase the use of attribution theory we create a new set of scales to provide a stable, parsimonious instrument for measuring attribution style. Twelve sections of four courses across ten semesters were used to develop the scales and test them across groups and time. The final result is a new measurement tool, the Learned Helplessness Attribution Scale (LHAS), that demonstrates solid psychometric properties.