Abstract
Although the most used measure of transformational leadership, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), has been the subject of intense scrutiny among leadership scholars, little interest has been shown in analyzing the relationship between its underlying constructs and / or their measures. The present study identifies a formative factor structure for most MLQ first-order factors, replacing the usual reflective model. We demonstrate the value of this structure using data from two different samples. First, we applied the MLQ to a sample of 129 police officers from the Catalan Police workforce. Second, we ran an online survey with 300 US citizens. We argue that three second-order factors (transformational, transactional, and laissez faire) should be used as emergent aggregate multidimensional models to describe three different leadership styles, challenging the ubiquitous multidimensional latent models favored in the extant literature. We then propose that transformational/charismatic leadership should be treated as a multidimensional emergent profile model, replacing the leadership development order of precedence, which is dominant in modern leadership research.
Highlights
The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) is a leading survey instrument used to assess leadership [1, 2]
We argue that three secondorder factors should be used as multidimensional emergent models to describe three different leadership styles, challenging the ubiquitous multidimensional latent models favored in the extant literature
The MLQ is associated with measurement model misspecification, which is a source of both biased structural parameter estimates and poor fit in covariance structure models [41]
Summary
The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) is a leading survey instrument used to assess leadership [1, 2]. Known as the MLQ-5X, its strength depends on its ability to capture several leadership styles in a single measurement instrument [4, 5]. It incorporates a range of nine scales: five to capture transformational, three to measure transactional, and one to reflect laissez-faire leadership styles, as well as three to include leadership outcomes. The MLQ can be considered to be a prominent example of a clear academic (and commercial) success It appears that the original underlying methodological assumptions, based on Classical Test Theory (CTT) [24], have never been questioned in the context of the MLQ (or other leadership measures, for that matter), the nature of the associated full-range theory as a multidimensional construct has been discussed. Several recent studies related the MLQ-5X dimensions to other constructs, assuming the factorial structure originally proposed by Bass and Avolio (e.g., [32,33,34])
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
