Description

The Furnham Parental Locus of Control Scale (FPLCS-60) is a psychometric tool designed to measure parents’ beliefs about the control they have over their children’s behavior and development. This scale assesses whether parents attribute their child’s outcomes to internal factors (e.g., their own parenting skills) or external factors (e.g., luck or circumstances). The scale is intended to provide insights into parental attitudes and how these may influence parenting practices and child development.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data Collection: Parents complete the scale by responding to 60 items related to their perceptions of control over their children’s behavior and development. Responses are typically recorded using a Likert-type scale, indicating the degree to which they agree or disagree with each statement.
Data Processing: Responses are scored based on the scale’s items, which are then aggregated to compute overall scores for internal and external locus of control. The data is compiled and analyzed to provide an overall locus of control profile for each respondent.
Data Interpretation: Analysis involves examining patterns in the locus of control scores to understand how parents perceive their influence on their child’s outcomes. This can reveal whether parents generally have an internal or external locus of control and how this perception aligns with their parenting practices.
Application: The results can be used by researchers and practitioners to understand the impact of parental locus of control on parenting styles and child development. It can inform interventions aimed at shifting parental attitudes if necessary, and help in developing support programs for parents.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Furnham Parental Locus of Control Scale (FPLCS-60) are:
Assessment of Parental Beliefs: To evaluate parents’ beliefs about their ability to control or influence their child’s behavior and development.
Understanding Parenting Practices: To explore how parents’ locus of control influences their parenting style and practices.
Informing Interventions: To provide insights that can be used to design interventions that address parental beliefs and potentially improve parenting practices and child outcomes.
Research and Development: To contribute to the academic understanding of the relationship between parental locus of control and child development, and to support research in this area.

Calibration

Scoring: Each item on the FPLCS-60 is scored according to the respondents’ agreement or disagreement. Scores are calculated to reflect the extent to which parents perceive control as internal or external. Higher scores on internal locus of control indicate a belief that parents have significant influence over their child’s outcomes, while higher scores on external locus of control suggest a belief in less control.
Statistical Analysis: Reliability and validity of the scale are assessed through statistical analyses, including internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) and factor analysis to ensure the scale measures the intended constructs effectively.
Normative Data: Scores may be compared with normative data to interpret individual results in the context of broader trends. This comparison helps in understanding how an individual’s locus of control relates to general patterns observed in the population.

Bibliography

Furnham, A. (1990). The locus of control of parents: Development of a measure. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31(5), 905-918.
Furnham, A., & Hughes, D. J. (1995). Parental locus of control and child development. In T. R. Tyler (Ed.), Psychology and Society: Perspectives on Parenting. Sage Publications.
Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80(1), 1-28.
Phares, E. J. (1976). The role of parental locus of control in child-rearing. In L. P. McDonald (Ed.), Child Development and Parenting. Academic Press.