Leadership: Validation of a Self-Report Scale. Issue 2 (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dussault, Marc; Frenette, Éric; Fernet, Claude
• Is Part Of: Psychological reports. Volume 112:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Psychology; 150.5
• DOI: 10.2466/01.08.PR0.112.2.419-436
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2941

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to propose and test the factor structure of a new self-report questionnaire on leadership. A sample of 373 school principals in the Province of Quebec, Canada completed the initial 46-item version of the questionnaire. In order to obtain a questionnaire of minimal length, a four-step procedure was retained. First, items analysis was performed using Classical Test Theory. Second, Rasch analysis was used to identify non-fitting or overlapping items. Third, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using structural equation modelling was performed on the 21 remaining items to verify the factor structure of the scale. Results show that the model with a single third-order dimension (leadership), two second-order dimensions (transactional and transformational leadership), and one first-order dimension ( laissez-faire leadership) provides a good fit to the data. Finally, invariance of factor structure was assessed with a second sample of 222 vice-principals in the Province of Quebec, Canada. This model is in agreement with the theoretical model developed by Bass (1985), upon which the questionnaire is based.