Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale [MLC-24]

Scale Description

The Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale (MLC-24) is a psychometric instrument developed by Levenson (1973) to assess individuals’ beliefs regarding the factors that determine or influence events and outcomes in their lives.

The scale is based on the concept of locus of control and distinguishes internal control from two separate forms of external control. Rather than treating external locus of control as a single dimension, the MLC differentiates between the belief that outcomes are determined by powerful others and the belief that they are determined by chance, fate, or uncontrollable circumstances.

The MLC-24 consists of 24 items, organized into three subscales of eight items each, providing a multidimensional assessment of control-related beliefs.

Objective

The primary objective of the MLC-24 is to assess individuals’ beliefs about personal and external control and to determine the extent to which they perceive life events and outcomes as being influenced by their own actions or by external forces.

More specifically, the scale evaluates the extent to which individuals:

a) believe that they can influence events through their own actions, choices, and abilities;

b) perceive important outcomes as being controlled by other people who possess power or authority; and

c) attribute events and outcomes to chance, fate, or other uncontrollable factors.

This distinction provides a more detailed understanding of individual differences in perceived personal and external control.

Dimensions of the Scale

The MLC-24 comprises three distinct subscales:

Internal Control (I): assesses the extent to which individuals believe that outcomes in their lives are influenced by their own actions, decisions, abilities, and behavior.

Powerful Others (P): evaluates the belief that important events and outcomes are controlled or strongly influenced by people who possess power, authority, or social influence.

Chance (C): assesses the extent to which individuals believe that events are determined by chance, luck, fate, or other factors beyond their personal control.

The three dimensions are scored separately and provide a multidimensional profile of an individual’s locus-of-control beliefs.

Greek Adaptation and Sample

The Greek adaptation of the MLC-24 was based on a sample of 371 participants of both sexes.

The sample included 247 students from the University of Crete and the Technological Educational Institute of Athens, with a mean age of 21.17 years, as well as 124 older adults, with a mean age of 72.31 years.

As part of the adaptation process, the MLC was initially translated into Greek, followed by procedures aimed at examining the correspondence of the adapted version with the original instrument.

Scoring

The 24 items are administered together and each statement is rated on a six-point response scale:

0 – Strongly disagree
1 – Moderately disagree
2 – Slightly disagree
3 – Slightly agree
4 – Moderately agree
5 – Strongly agree

A separate score is calculated for each of the three subscales by summing the scores of its eight corresponding items:

Internal Control: Items 1, 4, 5, 9, 18, 19, 21, and 23.

Powerful Others: Items 3, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22.

Chance: Items 2, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 24.

Each subscale therefore produces a score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate stronger endorsement of the corresponding locus-of-control orientation.

The three subscale scores should preferably be interpreted separately rather than combined into a single overall score.

Data Analysis

MLC-24 data can be analyzed separately for each of the three dimensions. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, medians, and ranges may be calculated to summarize participants’ scores.

The subscale scores may also be examined in relation to demographic, social, psychological, or behavioral variables and compared across different population groups.

In psychometric studies, researchers may additionally investigate the internal consistency of the subscales, test–retest reliability, and the factor structure of the instrument.

Validity

The original standardization and validity assessment of the MLC was conducted in the United States by Levenson (1973).

According to the information provided, the items of the original scale significantly differentiated between individuals with low and high scores and demonstrated very low correlations with measures of socially desirable responding.

The Greek adaptation was also examined through factor analysis. The findings supported the multidimensional structure of the scale and indicated a factor structure broadly comparable to that identified in other cultural contexts.

Reliability

The MLC demonstrates moderate to satisfactory reliability according to the reported psychometric findings.

The reported Kuder–Richardson reliability coefficients range from 0.62 to 0.66.

Test–retest reliability coefficients, based on repeated administration with a one-week interval, range from 0.64 to 0.78.

These reliability indices should be interpreted in relation to the specific subscale and the characteristics of the population in which the instrument is administered.

Applications

The MLC-24 can be used in psychological, social, and behavioral research to investigate individual differences in beliefs concerning personal and external control.

Its distinction between Internal Control, Powerful Others, and Chance allows researchers to examine different patterns of control beliefs and their relationships with psychological, behavioral, and social variables.

The instrument may also be applied in comparative studies involving different age or population groups and in research examining the relationship between locus of control, psychological adjustment, behavior, and other aspects of individual functioning.

The MLC-24 is a psychometric measure of control-related beliefs rather than a stand-alone diagnostic instrument.

References

Kleftaras, G. (1997). Control-related beliefs and depressive symptomatology in a sample of Greek students. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling, 2(1), 17–25.

Levenson, H. (1973). Multidimensional locus of control in psychiatric patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 41(3), 252–259.

Levenson, H. (1974). Activism and powerful others: Distinctions within the concept of internal-external control. Journal of Personality Assessment, 38, 377–383.

Tzounichaki, E., & Kleftaras, G. (1998). Étude comparative entre sujets jeunes et âgés, concernant le concept de contrôle interne-externe chez les personnes âgées Grecques. Thèse de Doctorat, Université Paris-X Nanterre.

Tzounichaki, E., & Kleftaras, G. (1999). Étude comparative entre sujets jeunes et âgés concernant le concept de contrôle. Journal d’Ergothérapie, 2(2), 39–55.