Initial Validity and Reliability of the Trent Attribution Profile (TAP) as a Measure of Attribution Schema and Locus of Control

Abstract

Success and failure outcomes in three achievement-oriented common-life situations were simulated in the Trent Attribution Profile (TAP) with both self and others-orientations. The TAP provides measures of locus of control and stability dimensions which can be further partitioned into individual attribution elements (i.e., ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck) under four different conditions (self-success, other-success, self-failure, other-failure). The Internality dimension of the TAP was correlated significantly with Rotter's I-E Scale. The test-retest reliability coefficient was significant. Traditional success-failure and self-other biases were also obtained.