Summary

The Communication Locus of Control Scale (CLOC) is an important tool for assessing individuals’ beliefs about the degree of control they have over their communicative interactions. Proper design, analysis, and calibration of the scale ensure the reliability and validity of the results, providing valuable insights into how communication control beliefs influence communicative effectiveness and psychological well-being.

Objective

The primary goal of the Communication Locus of Control Scale (CLOC) is to evaluate the extent to which individuals believe they have control over their communication and communicative interactions. The scale measures people’s beliefs about their ability to influence the outcomes of communication—whether these outcomes depend on their own actions (internal control) or on external factors (external control).

Analysis

The analysis of data collected from the CLOC includes:
Descriptive Statistics: Presentation of the main characteristics of the data, such as means, variances, and percentages, to provide a general picture of communication control beliefs among participants.
Frequency Analysis: Recording and analyzing the frequency of responses for each question.
Comparative Analysis: Comparing responses between different participant groups (e.g., gender, age groups, professional status).
Correlation: Examining the relationship between communication locus of control and other variables, such as communication effectiveness, self-esteem, and social support.
Factor Analysis: Examining the structure of the scale to confirm the theoretical dimensions of communication locus of control.

Calibration

Calibration of the CLOC involves the process of evaluating the tool’s reliability and validity. This can be achieved through:
Preliminary Testing: Administering the scale to a small sample of participants to identify and correct issues.
Reliability Analysis: Using statistical methods, such as Cronbach’s alpha, to assess the internal consistency of the scale.
Validity Analysis: Assessing content, criterion, and construct validity to ensure that the scale measures what it is intended to measure.
Cross-Validation: Using data from different samples to verify the reliability and validity of the results.

References

DeVellis, R. F. (2016). Scale Development: Theory and Applications (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Carmines, E. G., & Zeller, R. A. (1979). Reliability and Validity Assessment. Sage Publications.
Fowler, F. J. (2013). Survey Research Methods (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80(1), 1–28.
Burleson, B. R., & Caplan, S. E. (1998). Cognitive complexity and instructional communication. Communication Education, 47(3), 234–244.