Imagination and its association with internal control in middle childhood

Abstract: The present study investigated the relation between imagination, motivation and locus of control. The participants were 95 children (53 girls and 42 boys) born between 1998 and 2001. Motivation was measured using “Achievement Goal Questionnaire” and theoretical background on motivation was oriented in “Achievement Goal Theory”. “Mastery goal orientation” (goal to develop ability) was hypothesized to interact with imagination, imaginary companions and internal locus of control. The “Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children” was used for measure of “Locus of control”, a construct developed by Rotter in 1966. Imagination was measured using “The Children Fantasy Inventory”. Results revealed that children high in imagination demonstrate internal control to a greater extent than children low in imagination. No relation was found between imagination and mastery goal orientation, between imaginary companions and motivation, between imaginary companions and locus of control, nor between locus of control and motivation. Directions for further research are discussed.