Interactive effects of trait locus of control and situational contingency on risk taking

The present study examines locus of control (LOC) as a determinant of risk taking behaviour. Sixty participants scoring in the top (Internal) and bottom (External) quartiles on the Rotter I-E Control Scale were employed in the second phase of the experiment. These two groups of 30 were further subdivided into a contingent and non-contingent procedural manipulation. Participants were then asked to play a pre-programmed computer memory game and invited to risk points afterwards. It was hypothesized that there will be an interaction between the effects of personal trait LOC and situational contingency on how much participants will risk. Specifically, it is expected that internally-controlled participants will risk more in contingent situations and, externally-controlled will risk more non-contingent situations. Results confirmed a significant interaction. All sub-comparisons were in the direction predicted, but only one (the difference between Internals and Externals in the non-contingent situation) achieved statistical significance.