Control Beliefs

 

 

Control Beliefs:
General Information

When?

Time 1

Time 2

Time 3

Time 4

Time 5

Time 6

Time 7

Where?

Intake Assessment
(EE)

Intensive Protocol
(IP)

Intake Assessment
(EE)
Intake Assessment
(EE)

Intensive Protocol
(IP)

Intake Assessment
(EE)

Intensive Protocol
(IP)

Intake Assessment
(EE)

Intensive Protocol
(IP)

Intensive Protocol
(IP)
Intake Assessment
(EE)

Questionnaire 

EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 10

IP:
Self and Personality
p. 9

EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 15 
EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 14

IP:
Self and Personality
p. 8

EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 14

IP:
Self and Personality
p. 8

EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 7

IP:
Self and Personality
p. 6

IP:
Self and Personality
p. 6
EE:
Intake Assessment
p. 11

SIR Data bank

EE:
ZPK
rec/table 10
(Z1ee)

IP:
Psycho
rec/table 1 (P1data) 

rec/table 2 (P1const) 

EE:
ZPK 
rec/table 110 (Z2ee)  
EE:
ZPK 
rec/table 210 (Z3ee) 

IP:
Psycho
rec/table 201 (P3data) 

rec/table 202 (P3const) 

EE:
ZPK 
rec/table 310 (Z4ee) 

IP:
Psycho
rec/table 301 (P4data) 

rec/table 302 (P4const) 

EE:
ZPK 
rec/table 410 (Z5ee) 

IP:
Psycho
rec/table 401 (P5data) 

rec/table 402 (P5const) 

IP:
Psycho
rec/table 501 (P6data) 

rec/table 502 (P6const) 

EE:
ZPK 
rec/table 610 (Z7ee)

To assess control beliefs, a scale consisting of 14 items (statements) describing general beliefs about control over positive and negative aspects of life was developed by the BASE project (Smith, Marsiske, & Maier, 1996). The items assess beliefs about internal (personal) control, external (other) control and chance (cf. Skinner, 1995; Levinson, 1981). Responses were given on a five-point Likert-Scale (5 rated as "applies very well to me", to 1 as "does not apply to me at all").
Three factors could be confirmed by LISREL analyses: beliefs about internal control over positive events, internal control over negative events, and external control (powerful others). The items concerning a belief in chance did not reliably form a factor.

Additionally, in the EE two single items were included; one measuring a general internal control belief (Levenson, 1981, also used in the Final Questionnaire), the other one measuring a health related internal control belief (MHLC-A, Wallston, Wallston, & de Vellis, 1978). Responses to these questions were given on a five-point Likert-Scale (5 labeled as "applies very well to me", 1 as "does not apply to me at all"). Participants who did not understand this scale could answer the questions by simply saying "yes" (1) or "no" (2). At the 5th measurement point a subsample of the original inventory was included in the assessment.

Literature: Smith & Baltes, 1996, 1999; Smith, Fleeson, Geiselmann, Settersen, & Kunzmann, 1996, 1999; Staudinger, Freund, Linden, & Maas, 1996, 1999.

 


 

Control Beliefs:
IP-Items used in BASE

Note:
According to the design, IP variable names for Time 1 have the prefix p1, names for Time 3 have the prefix p3,
names for Time 4 have the prefix p4, names for Time 5 have the prefix p5, and names for Time 6 have the prefix p6.
Names for Time 7 have the prefix p7 although the data were administrated in the intake assessment.

BASE items / variables

English translation

Variable names
Time 1

Variable names
Time 3

Variable names
Time 4

Variable names
Time 5

Variable names
Time 6

Variable names
Time 7

1. 

Das, was an Gutem in meinem Leben passiert, kann ich selbst bestimmen. 

It 's up to me to arrange for all the good things in my life. 

p1dcnti1

+

+

+

+

+

2. 

In meinem Leben werden die guten Dinge zum größten Teil von zufälligen Ereignissen bestimmt.

The good things in my life are, for the most part, a matter of luck. 

p1dcntc1

+

+

-

+

-

3. 

Im allgemeinen sorgen andere Leute dafür, daß in meinem Leben nichts schief geht. 

Other people generally make sure that nothing goes wrong in my life. 

p1dcnte1

+

+

+

+

+

4. 

Wenn in meinem Leben etwas schiefgeht, dann habe ich einfach nicht genügend aufgepaßt.

If something goes wrong in my life, it's usually because I was not careful enough. 

p1dcnti2

+

+

-

+

-

5. 

Das Gute und Schöne in meinem Leben kann ich selbst beeinflussen. 

I can make sure that good things come my way. 

p1dcnti3

+

+

+

+

+

6. 

Oft sehe ich einfach keine Möglichkeit, mich vor unglücklichen Ereignissen zu schützen.

I often feel that I just have no influence over the things that go wrong in my life. 

p1dcntc2

+

+

-

+

-

7. 

Wenn ich bekomme, was ich will, so ist das meistens, weil ich selbst viel dafür getan habe. 

When I get what I want, it is usually because I have worked hard for it.

p1dcnti4

+

+

+

+

+

8. 

Ich bin auf andere angewiesen, um Unannehmlichkeiten zu vermeiden. 

I depend on others to ensure that there are no problems in my life. 

p1dcnte2

+

+

+

+

+

9. 

Zum größten Teil sorgen andere Leute dafür, daß in meinem Leben alles gut geht. 

Other people generally arrange for good things to happen in my life. 

p1dcnte3

+

+

+

+

+

10. 

Wenn etwas bei mir nicht klappt, liegt es an mir selbst 

It 's my fault if something goes wrong in my life. 

p1dcnti5

+

+

-

+

-

11. 

Wenn ich bekomme, was ich mir wünsche, so geschieht das meistens, weil ich Glück habe. 

If I get what I want in my life, then it's mostly luck is with me. 

p1dcntc3

+

+

+

+

-

12. 

Wenn ich Probleme im Leben habe, sind sie meistens auf mein eigenes Verhalten zurückzuführen. 

If there are problems in my life, then they are my own doing. 

p1dcnti6

+

+

-

+

-

13. 

Wenn das Schicksal es nicht will, habe ich einfach keine Chance.

When fate is against me, there is nothing to be done about it. 

p1dcntc4

+

+

-

+

-

14. 

Die angenehmen Dinge in meinem Leben hängen von anderen Leuten ab.

The good things in my life are determined by other people. 

p1dcnte4

+

+

+

+

+

 


 

Control Beliefs:
EE-Items used in BASE

Note:
According to the design, names for Time 1 have the prefix z1, names for Time 2 have the prefix z2,
names for Time 3 have the prefix z3, names for Time 4 have the prefix z4, names for Time 5 have the prefix z5, names for
Time 6 have the prefix z6, and names for Time 7 have the prefix z7.

If the item has been answered on the five-point scale it has the suffix x1;
if it has been answered on the simplified dichotomous scale, the suffix is x2.

Original items

Translation used in BASE

Variable names
Time 1

Variable names
Time 2

Variable names
Time 3

Variable names
Time 4

Variable names
Time 5

Variable names
Time 6

Variable names
Time 7

1. 

I can pretty much determine what will happen in my life. 

Ich kann viel von dem, was in meinem Leben passiert, selbst bestimmen. 

 z1e46x1r

+

+

+

+

+

+

2. 

If I take the right actions, I can stay healthy. 

Meine körperliche Gesundheit ist weitgehend von dem abgängig, was ich selbst tue. 

 z1e47x1r

+

+

+

+

+

+

 


  

Control Beliefs:
Constructs Created in BASE

Note:
According to the design, names for Time 1 have the prefix z1, names for Time 2 have the prefix z2,
names for Time 3 have the prefix z3, names for Time 4 have the prefix z4, names for Time 5 have the prefix z5, names for
Time 6 have the prefix z6, and names for Time 7 have the prefix z7.

Constructs

Construct names
Time 1

Construct names
Time 3

Construct names
Time 4

Construct names
Time 5

Construct names
Time 6

Construct names
Time 7

Internal control over positive events 

1. 

p1cslfpo

p3cslfpo

p4cslfpo

p5cslfpo

p6cslfpo

p7cslfpo

Raw mean (items 1, 5, 7) 

2. 

p1cip

p3cip

p4cipf

p5cipf

p6cipf

p7cipf

Factor score: mean (LISREL parcels 1, 2, 3) * 

Internal control over negative events 

1. 

p1cslfne

p3cslfne

p4cslfne

-

p6cslfne

-

Raw mean  (items 4, 10, 12)

2. 

p1cin

p3cin

p4cin

-

p6cinf

-

Factor score: mean (LISREL parcels 1, 2, 3) * 

External control (powerful others) 

1. 

p1cother

p3cother

p4cother

p5cother

p6cother

p7cother

Raw mean (items 3, 8, 9, 14)

2. 

p1cex 

p3cex

p4cex

p5cexf

p6cexf

p7cexf

Factor score: mean (LISREL parcels 1, 2, 3) * 

Chance 

1. 

p1cchanc

p3cchanc

p4cchanc

p5cchanc

p6cchanc

-

Raw mean (items 2, 6, 11, 13)

2. 

p1cch

p3cch

p4cch

p5cchf

p6cchf

-

Factor score: mean (LISREL parcels 1, 2, 3) * 


* The composition of the LISREL parcels is explained in the following table (Additional information). 

 


 

Additional Information:
Control Constructs Created in BASE

Note:
According to the design, names for Time 1 have the prefix z1, names for Time 3 have the prefix z3, names for Time 4
have the prefix z4, names for Time 5 have the prefix z5, names for Time 6 have the prefix z6,
and names for Time 7 have the prefix z7.

Constructs

Construct names
Time 1

Construct names
Time 3

Construct names
Time 4

Construct names
Time 5

Construct names
Time 6

Construct names
Time 7

Internal control over positive events 

2a. 

p1cipp1

p3cipp1

p4cipp1

p5cipp1
p6cipp1
p7cipp1

LISREL parcel 1: mean (item 1)

2b. 

p1cipp2

p3cipp2

p4cipp2

p5cipp2
p6cipp2
p7cipp2

LISREL parcel 2: mean (item 3)

2c. 

p1cipp3

p3cipp3

p4cipp3

p5cipp3
p6cipp3
p7cipp3

LISREL parcel 3: mean (item 4)

Internal control over negative events 

2a. 

p1cinp1

p3cinp1

p4cinp1

-
p6cinp1
-

LISREL parcel 1: mean (item 2)

2b. 

p1cinp2

p3cinp2

p4cinp2

-
p6cinp2
-

LISREL parcel 2: mean (item 5)

2c. 

p1cinp3

p3cinp3

p4cinp3

-
p6cinp3
-

LISREL parcel 3: mean (item 6)

External control (powerful others) 

2a. 

p1cexp1

p3cexp1

p4cexp1

p5cexp1
p6cexp1
p7cexp1

LISREL parcel 1: mean (item 9)

2b. 

p1cexp2

p3cexp2

p4cexp2

p5cexp2
p6cexp2
p7cexp2

LISREL parcel 2: mean (item 3)

2c. 

p1cexp3

p3cexp3

p4cexp3

p5cexp3
p6cexp3
p7cexp3

LISREL parcel 3: mean (items 8, 14)

Chance

2a. 

p1cchp1

p3cchp1

p4cchp1

-
-
-

LISREL parcel 1: mean (item 2)

2b. 

p1cchp2

p3cchp2

p4cchp2

p5cchp2
p6cchp2
-

LISREL parcel 2: mean (item 11)

2c. 

p1cchp3

p3cchp3

p4cchp3

-
-
-

LISREL parcel 3: mean (item 6)


* Note that item 13 (p1/ p3/ p4dcntc4) has been excluded from further consideration.

For further information please read the technical documentation of the self and personality interview at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.