Dimensions of control and project-work outcomes

Two questionnaires exploring dimensions of control were administered to 463 Open University students involved in courses containing an element of either structured or unstructured project work. The questionnaires were Rotter's Locus-of-Control Form and Parlett's Syllabus-Orientation Form. Correlations were examined between these scores, the student's attitudes toward project work, and academic outcomes from their courses (scores for project work and scores for non-project work). Locus of Control was found not to correlate with outcomes, but Syllabus Orientation was found to correlate with attitude toward project work. Locus of Control and Syllabus Orientation were not correlated, suggesting that each construct corresponds to different dimensions of control.