Attitudes and performance: An analysis of Russian workers

How do attitudes affect performance? Numerous studies show that individuals who exhibit an internal locus of control perform better than those characterized by an external locus of control. We use survey data collected in two regions in Russia to determine whether these same results hold among the ∼1500 employees who participated in our study. Our performance measures include self-reported assessments of work quantity and quality, earnings, and expected promotions. We find significant differences between internals and externals regarding work-related attitudes. Controlling for a variety of worker characteristics, we find that individuals who exhibit an internal locus of control perform better, but this result is not always statistically significant. The influence of LOC on performance varies by region, gender, and supervisory position. Overall, the effect of LOC on performance is rather small among the participants in our survey.