An Exploratory Dimensional Analysis of Form XII of the Ohio State Leadership Scales.

Abstract

This study examined the Consideration and Initiating Structure subscales of Form XII of the Ohio State Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire to determine if these subscales contain items which tap extraneous behavior dimensions. A panel of 38 judges was used to theoretically evaluate the behavioral dimensionality of the scales; field- and experimentally-collected leader behavior descriptions (N = 161) were factor analyzed to determine if the items were perceived in a similar manner by respondents. While the results of the two analyses were not identical, they were supportive of each other and indicated that the subscales appear to measure a number of subtypes of leader behavior on both a theoretical and practical basis. From the results in total, two alternative conclusions can be drawn: (1) Consideration and Structure (as measured by LBDQ―XII) are complex dimensions of leader behavior which include several subtypes or (2) Form XII measures extraneous leader behavior dimensions. Because the subscales were originally developed factor-analytically and because considerable controversy exists concerning the theoretical definitions of these two dimensions, it was not possible to determine if the behavior subtypes uncovered were actually extraneous to the two dimensions or merely part of their complexity. It was suggested that a more precise set of definitions for Consideration and Structure must be formulated before further meaningful testing of the content validity of these scales be performed on both theoretical and perceptual levels.