Everyday Life and Causal Factors: The Self, the Chance, and Others with Power

Presents the results of an empirical investigation exploring the causal factors perceived by individuals to significantly influence the achievement of their goals in life: professional accomplishment, social recognition, & interpersonal relations. Questionnaire data from citizens from the Spanish province of Biscay are used to test different scales of values. Factor analysis identifies three sets of causes as foremost in the minds of the respondents: (1) those related to the self (effort, capacity, skills), related to the ethic of responsibility; (2) luck or chance; & (3) the influence of people who have power. 2 Tables, 14 References. Adapted from the source document.