Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, VoL 6, No. 2, 1978, pp. 281-283 Note on Locus of Control and Academic Achievement in Institutionalized Juvenile Delinquents 1 Verda L. Little2 Virginia Commonwealth University Philip C. Kendall University of Minnesota The previously reported relationship between internal locus of control and academic achievement was explored with the Nowiclci-Strickland Locus of Con- trol Scale for Children (Nowicki & Strickland, 1973) and seven measures of academic achievement in a random sample of 45 male residents of seven state learning centers for juvenile delinquents. Correlations between overall locus of control scores and all seven measures were significant, but with intelligence con- trolled in a partial correlation, locus of control scores were found to add little to the prediction of academic achievement from IQ scores alone. Discussion ad- dressed possible explanations for the current findings in terms of the meaning of the scale for a nonnormal group and the effects of situations on responses of sub/ects. Persons with a generalized expectancy that they can control reinforcements (internally oriented) have shown higher academic achievement than those who perceive reinforcers as dependent on chance, fate, or powerful others (externally oriented) (Nowicki & Strickland, 1973). Specific classroom procedures have produced greater internality in children and, concomitantly, improved academic achievement (Matheny & Edwards, 1974). Since juvenile delinquents typically show academic deficiencies, this study was designed to explore th~ relationship between locus of control and Manuscript received in f'mal form August 6, 1977. 1Appreciation is expressed to Mobile Psychiatric Clinic staff psychologists, to the U.S. General Accounting Office, and to Kingsbury Center, consultants, Washington, D.C., for their assistance in data collection. Address aU correspondence to Verda L. Little, Department of Psychology, Virginia Com- monwealth University, 800 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284. 281 0091-062717810600-0281505.00/0 9 1978 Plenum Publishing Corporation