Social learning theory expectancy framework (generalized and specific expectancies)

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Evidence · no claims cited

Description

Rotter's social learning theory, as applied in this article, conceptualizes behavior as determined by generalized expectancies, such as locus of control (internal versus external reinforcement), and by specific expectancies formed from experience in particular situations. The article uses this framework to interpret academic achievement in expectancy terms, measuring generalized expectancies with the Nowicki-Strickland CNS-IE and specific expectancies with the Rotter Level of Aspiration Board. The study's findings that internal locus of control and realistic specific expectancies both predicted achievement were taken as supportive of "conceptualizing achievement in expectancy terms".

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Measurement instruments for generalized expectancies (CNS-IE) and specific expectancies (Rotter Level of Aspiration Board) must be administered to link expectancy constructs to achievement.

Constraints

• The framework was applied to a small (N=63) lower-middle-class urban elementary sample; the reported relations are correlational.

Target Learners

• elementary school students (fifth and sixth graders)

Target Learning Objectives

• academic achievement
• expectancy formation and goal setting

Claims

• Internal Locus Control Higher Achievement [+M]
• Realistic Expectancies Predict Achievement [+M]

Related Theories

• Interpersonal styles equated with generalized expectancies in social learning theory
• Rotter's internal-external locus of control of reinforcement construct
• Locus of control as a bipolar internal-external expectancy construct from Rotter's social learning theory
• Locus of control of reinforcement as a multidimensional, domain-specific construct rather than Rotter's unidimensional generalized expectancy
• Locus of Control
• Social Learning Theory

Examples

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Key Sources

• Locus of Control and Academic Achievement: The Relationship Between Internal-External Control and Achievement in Elementary School Children. (1972). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ061921

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	theory
title	Social learning theory expectancy framework (generalized and specific expectancies)
description	Rotter's social learning theory, as applied in this article, conceptualizes behavior as determined by generalized expectancies, such as locus of control (internal versus external reinforcement), and by specific expect...
status	review
canonical	True
generated	by claude/unspecified on 2026-09-25
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — locus-of-control-and-academic-achievement-the-relationship-between-internal-external-control-and-achievement-in-elementary-school-children-1972

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