The Spheres of Control scale: the identification of a clear replicable three-factor structure

Abstract

The Spheres of Control scale (SOC) is a multidimensional measure of locus of control, originally designed to assess personal control, interpersonal control, and socio-political control. This scale is now in its third revision. Although Versions 1 and 2 have been scrutinised using factor analysis, no published studies have yet examined the factor structure of Version 3. Responses to the original version [SOC-1; Paulhus, D., & Christie, R. (1981). Spheres of control: An interactionist approach to the assessment of perceived control. In H.M. Lefcourts (Ed.) Research with the Locus of Control Construct (Vol. 1) Assessment methods (pp. 161-188). New York: Academic Press.] and the most recent vers..