This is a psychology test given to us on the second day of orientation during the “CREATING CONNECTIONS” briefing. It is suppose to be an entertaining session looks at what you can do to establish new friendships and avoid isolation.
I myself actually prefer the thought provoking part “offered” by the test itself.
It is a simple test. You will just have to pick the one you believe more in – A or B?
1. A) Many of the unhappy things in people’s lives are partly due to bad luck.
B) People’s misfortunes result from the mistakes they make.
2. A) One of the major reasons why we have wars is because people don’t take enough interest in politics.
B) There will always be wars, no matter how hard people try to prevent them.
3. A) In the long run, people get the respect they deserve in this world.
B) Unfortunately, an individual’s worth often passes unrecognized no matter how hard [they] try.
4. A) The idea that teachers are unfair to students is nonsense.
B) Most students don’t realize the extent to which their grades are influenced by accidental happenings.
5. A) Without the right breaks, one cannot be an effective leader.
B) Capable people who fail to become leaders have not taken advantage of their opportunities.
6. A) No matter how hard you try, some people just don’t like you.
B) People who can’t get others to like them don’t understand how to get along with others.
7. A) I have often found that what is going to happen will happen.
B) Trusting to fate has never turned out as well for me as making a decision to take a definite course of action.
8. A) In the case of the well prepared student, there is rarely, if ever, such thing as an unfair test.
B) Many times exam questions tend to be so unrelated to course work that studying is pretty useless.
9. A) Becoming a success is a matter of hard work; luck has little or nothing to do with it
B) Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the right time.
10. A) The average citizen can have an influence in government decisions.
B) This world is run by the few people in power, and there is not much the little guy can do about it.
11. A) When I make plans, I am almost certain that I can make them work.
B) It is not always wise to plan too far ahead because many things turn out to be a matter of luck anyway.
12. A) In my case, getting what I want has little or nothing to do with luck.
B) Many times we might just as well decide what to do by flipping a coin.
13. A) What happens to me is my own doing.
B) Sometimes I feel that I don’t have enough control over the direction my life is taking.
So, the idea is simple. There is no right or wrong answer in this test as most people will have different perspective on the same things they are looking at due to their past experiences.
So, you get 1 point if you chose A for question number 1, 5, 6 and 7. 1 point if you chose B for all the others.
The closer you are to zero; you are more of an internal locus of control person. You believe that a person’s behavior is directed by their own effort. This group of people tend to work for achievements and plan for long-term goals. They are better in adapting to a new environment.
The higher the score you get, you tend to believe that many things in life are a result of external forces such as fate or luck. You are more of an external locus of control person.
It is psychologically healthier to be an internal person but do not take it to the extreme as you may blame yourself if the sky is falling. Ha-ha.
I get 3 marks for the whole test. The choices are too obvious to me the first time I read them. You either believe more in fate or luck or in yourself.
I chose “There will always be wars, no matter how hard people try to prevent them” because I believe every war is started due to greed or personal interest and not because of external forces.
“In the long run, people get the respect they deserve in this world”
I believe we don’t just get respect or demand respect from someone else. We have to earn it. Not so?
“The idea that teachers are unfair to students is nonsense”
It might be true sometimes but definitely not in weikit case. Ha-ha. I stand firm on that. Well, wonder would you ever read this.
“Most students don’t realize the extent to which their grades are influenced by accidental happenings”
Well, the examiners might miss out your point, he is in a bad mood, and he can’t read your writing and so on. There are so many factors.
“In the case of the well prepared student, there is rarely, if ever, such thing as an unfair test”
If you are well prepared, you will get at least B if not A. if you don’t, most probably you prepared for the test the wrong way or your method is not correct.
“No matter how hard you try, some people just don’t like you”
This is so true. Obviously you can’t be pleasing the whole world right. Even some is against god and who are you compared to HIM? (If god really exists or existed)
“Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the right time”
I do believe that sometimes we do need a little of luck. After all, opportunity awaits those who are well prepared. If an opportunity presents itself, it is your show time.
Just try to share a few personal thoughts of mine. All of you are welcomed to exchange your ideas if you don’t agree with me.
So, at the end of the day, we are just told that the idea of making new friends are of our own effort bla bla bla.
This test is a copyright material of Scott Morgan from Curtin University of Technology and UNC Charlotte website.
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