Measuring perceptual and motivational facets of computer control: the development and validation of the computing control scale

The Computing Control Scale (CCS), a new factor analytically derived psychometric instrument is developed. The CCS consists of computing autonomy and computing need for control (NControl) subscales. Computing autonomy represents a composite of confidence in controlling computers and self-reliance when using computers. Computing NControl is considered to represent a domain-specific analog of Burger's (1992) global desire for control construct. The factor structure of the instrument is shown to be replicable. Also, the two subscales are shown to be reliable and to exhibit construct validity in terms of their differential relationships with other concepts such as computer comfort - anxiety, computer addiction and non-domain-specific desire for control. In addition, the data collected shows that few people attribute computing-related outcomes to luck or chance and indicates that the vast majority of people believe that in principle such outcomes are within their control. It is therefore concluded that attempts to measure computing-specific locus of control using a factor analytically derived instrument may not be viable.