Lost in Transition: The Influence of Locus of Control on Delaying Educational Decisions

20 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2016

See all articles by Katharina Jaik

Katharina Jaik

University of Zurich

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF); University of Bern - Department of Economics

Abstract

The transition from compulsory schooling to upper-secondary education is a crucial and frequently difficult step in the educational career of young people. In this study, we analyze the impact of one non-cognitive skill, locus of control, on the intention and the decision to delay the transition into post-compulsory education in Switzerland. We find that locus of control, measured at ages 13–14, has a significant impact on the intention to delay the transition into upper-secondary education. Furthermore, we find that the intention to delay the transition is strongly correlated with the actual delay, measured one and a half years after the intention. Finally, students with the initial intention to delay but successfully continuing into upper-secondary education show a stronger internal locus of control than comparable students who do delay their transition.

Keywords: locus of control, school-to-school transition, school-to-work transition

JEL Classification: I21, J24

Suggested Citation

Jaik, Katharina and Wolter, Stefan C., Lost in Transition: The Influence of Locus of Control on Delaying Educational Decisions. IZA Discussion Paper No. 10191, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2840135 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2840135

Katharina Jaik (Contact Author)

University of Zurich

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF) ( email )

CH - 5000 Aarau
Switzerland
+41 62 835 23 90 (Phone)
+41 62 835 23 99 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.skbf-csre.ch

University of Bern - Department of Economics ( email )

Gesellschaftstrasse 49
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland
+41 31 631 40 95 (Phone)
+41 31 631 39 92 (Fax)

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