Attribution
When students do not perform well on a test, they typically explain the results in one of two ways. The first is stating that they did not study hard enough, an explanation that indicates an internal locus of control. Individuals with internal locus of control explain events based on causes they can control. If they study harder for the next test, they can expect to do better.
The second way is to view the test as unfair—that the teacher did not allow enough time or the test information was not covered in class. This explanation indicates an external locus of control. Individuals with external locus of control are more apt to view events in terms of factors they cannot control. If the test is not fair, the student cannot change anything to get a better score. They can only hope the next test will be fair.
You may already have a sense of whether you respond more often from an internal or external locus of control. For this Discussion, you will determine, or confirm, your own locus of control. Then you will apply your insights in analyzing a common workplace situation with two quite different employees.
To prepare:
· Review Chapter 10 of the course text, focusing on attribution, and the Chapter 11 section on locus of control.
· Complete the locus of control assessment in the Week 5 Learning Resources. It should take approximately 10–15 minutes. You may want to print out the web page of your snapshot results.
· Reflect on insights you have gained about yourself and how to apply that knowledge toward understanding others.
· Review the media piece Workplace Attribution in your Week 5 Learning Resources. Think about differences in the two employees and consider how knowledge of attributional styles and locus of control may be applied in a workplace environment.
· Consider the relationship between culture and attributional style. Select a culture that you do not know well and research in the Walden Library or other scholarly sources for the culture’s attributional style and expectations of workers. Imagine the video scene taking place in that cultural setting. Be prepared to present your ideas in your Discussion post.
By Day 3
Post: a response in which you do the following:
· Explain the attribution each employee makes regarding job performance and what you can infer about the employee’s locus of control.
· Describe how this scenario would look in a different cultural setting. Use the particular culture that you researched as your example, and explain how the attributions involved might be similar or different.
Sample Solution