Locus of control and achievement motivation-critical factors in educational psychology

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of research on locus of control and achievement motivation for the practicing educational psychologist. The relation to learning and the implications for psychological evaluation of each construct are discussed. It is suggested that locus of control and achievement motivation influence the ways in which a child approaches school-related tasks, interprets the outcome of tasks, selects tasks, and persists in activities.