Off-campus UNL users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your NU ID and password. When you are done browsing please remember to return to this page and log out.
Non-UNL users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
THE ASSESSMENT OF AN OBSERVATIONAL SYSTEM TO MEASURE LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability and validity of an observational system to measure leadership behaviors. It was felt that this purpose could best be accomplished by developing a nomological network which compared information among multiple rater sources, multiple methods of measurement (questionnaires and observations), and multiple categories of leadership behavior. The study was conducted in five organizational settings with a total sample of 120 target managers (leaders). The three instruments employed were: the Leadership Observation System (LOS) which was an observational instrument developed specifically for this study to measure on-going leadership behaviors; the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire--Form XII (LBDQ-XII), and the Managerial Behavior Scales (MBS). Trained participant and outside observers simultaneously, but independently, recorded the behavior of target managers on the LOS instrument over a two-week period using time sampling techniques. Interrater agreement reliability was acceptable for the LOS instrument. Subsequently, target managers, their superiors (n = 118), peers (n = 210), and at least three of their subordinates (n = 362) completed the LBDQ-XII and MBS questionnaire measures. All data were analyzed by multitrait-multimethod analytical procedures. Results revealed that: (1) the LOS observation instrument demonstrated a considerably greater degree of construct validity (both convergent and discriminant) than either the LBDQ-XII or MBS questionnaires, when multiple rater sources were considered measurement by more than one method; (2) when different methods (questionnaires and observation) of measuring leadership behavior were assessed, there was little convergence between the LOS instrument and either the LBDQ-XII or MBS questionnaires on Consideration and Initiation of Structure types of factors; and (3) there was a modest degree of support for the construct validity of the LOS instrument when directly comparable participant observation and questionnaire self-estimate methods were compared. It was concluded from this study that the leadership area is still without any instruments of highly demonstrated construct validity, although there are indications as to how such measures could be developed. It was recommended that future research designed to investigate the construct validity of leadership instruments be conducted using more directly comparable questionnaire and observation methods, and by employing a nomological network approach.
Subject Area
Business community
Recommended Citation
LOCKWOOD, DIANE LOUISE LEE, "THE ASSESSMENT OF AN OBSERVATIONAL SYSTEM TO MEASURE LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS" (1981). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8208362.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8208362