Leadership: Validation of a Self-Report Scale

• Published in: Psychological reports 2013-04, Vol.112 (2), p.419-436
• Main Authors: Dussault, Marc, Frenette, Éric, Fernet, Claude
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Leadership; Male; Middle Aged; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Quebec; Reproducibility of Results; Schools - organization & administration; Self-Assessment; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0033-2941; 1558-691X
• DOI: 10.2466/01.08.PR0.112.2.419-436

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.