Lokus van kontrole as moderator in die verband tussen lees- en spelvermoë en akademiese prestasie by Graad 5- tot 7-leerders

Abstract

English: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of locus of control on the relationship between reading and spelling ability and academic performance of grade 5 to 7 learners. Non-experimental research with a correlational design was followed. The research group consisted of 282 Afrikaans boys and girls in grade 5 to 7. The ESSI Reading and Spelling Test was used to measure the participants' reading and spelling abilities, and the Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale for children was used to measure their locus of control. To determine the influence of locus of control on the relationship between reading and spelling ability and academic achievement, hierarchical regression analysis was followed. There is a positive relationship between reading and spelling ability and academic achievement. The positive relationship between internal locus of control and high academic performance and the negative relationship between external locus of control and low academic performance suggest that locus of control is important for learners with good and poor reading and spelling abilities. It can be concluded that there is a negative relationship between academic achievement and locus of control in learners with extremely high and extremely low reading and spelling abilities. The lower the learner’s locus of control score, the higher the learner tends to perform academically, and vice versa.

Afrikaans: Die doel van die studie is om die rol van lokus van kontrole in die verband tussen die lees- en spelvermoëns en akademiese prestasie van graad 5- tot 7-leerders te ondersoek. In hierdie studie is van nie-eksperimentele navorsing en 'n korrelasionele ontwerp gebruik gemaak. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit 282 Afrikaanssprekende seuns en dogters in graad 5 tot 7. Die ESSI Lees- en Speltoets is gebruik om die lees- en spelvermoë van die deelnemers te meet, en die Nowicki-Strickland lokus van kontrole skaal vir kinders is gebruik om die deelnemers se lokus van kontrole te meet. Om die rol van lokus van kontrole in die verband tussen lees- en spelvermoë en akademiese prestasie te ondersoek, is 'n hiërargiese regressie-ontleding uitgevoer. Daar is 'n positiewe verband tussen lees- en spelvermoë en akademiese prestasie. Die positiewe verband tussen interne lokus van kontrole en hoë akademiese prestasie en die negatiewe verband tussen eksterne lokus van kontrole en lae akademiese prestasie dui daarop dat lokus van kontrole 'n belangrike rol speel by leerlinge met goeie en swak lees- en spelvermoëns. Die gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word dat 'n negatiewe verband tussen akademiese prestasie en lokus van kontrole by leerlinge met baie hoë en baie lae lees- en spelvermoëns bestaan. Hoe laer die leerder se lokus van kontrole-telling is, hoe beter is die leerder geneig om op akademiese gebied te presteer, en andersom.