title: Internal-external locus of control and performance on a vigilance task.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated there are large individual differences in subjects' ability to perform on vigilance or watch-keeping tasks. This study used Rotter's Internal-External (I-E) Locus of Control Scale to resolve some of the variance attributed to individual differences and tested the hypothesis that the internally controlled person is a better monitor on a vigilance task than an externally controlled person. There were 64 subjects who performed a visual watch-keeping task for a 1-hr. period. The results indicated that the external subjects made significantly more incorrect responses and missed significantly more signals during the entire task. The internal-external dimension was effective in differentiating performance on a vigilance task.
mesh_terms: D001076:Aptitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception