Locus of Control and Decision Making Among US Army Aviators

Previous research has shown Locus of Control, the sense of being able to directly influence outcomes, can be used to predict a broad range of behaviors, including the actions taken by pilots in potentially hazardous situations. The objective of this Phase I effort is to develop and validate a prototype set of measures for assessing Locus of Control in Army Aviators. To accomplish this objective, we will review data from Army accident files and interview Aviators to identify frequently encountered hazardous situations. We will construct scales to measure Locus of Control and risk orientation among Army Aviators, and will construct a scale, modeled on the Hunter Hazardous Events Scale for use in the validation of these new scales. These new scales, along with established measures, such as the Aviation Safety Locus of Control scale, will then be administered to a large sample of Army Aviators, in a web-based format. The results will be analyzed to establish the psychometric characteristics of the new scales. The web-based data collection and validation of the prototype scales will provide the foundation for the development of an operational on-line survey and data management tool for assessment and tracking of Locus of Control during Phase II.