Locus of Control and Agency (8A) Practice Test

A study of 180 first-year college students measured locus of control at orientation and tracked perceived stress during midterms. Students were grouped into higher internal locus of control (top third) versus higher external locus of control (bottom third). Both groups reported similar academic workload, but the internal-locus group was more likely to report using planning and seeking help when grades were uncertain. The external-locus group more often described outcomes as dependent on “professors’ moods” or “luck.” Which statement best reflects the influence of an internal locus of control on behavior in this scenario?

In an observational study of group projects, a team includes members with differing loci of control. When the instructor announces that grading will include peer evaluations, one member says, “We should set clear roles and timelines so we can influence our outcome,” while another says, “Peer evaluations are biased; it won’t matter what we do.” The group’s subsequent coordination differs depending on which view dominates. Which outcome is most consistent with an external locus of control in this scenario?