EFFECTS OF LEADER PERSISTENCE AND LEADER BEHAVIOR ON LEADERSHIP PERCEPTIONS (original) (raw)

The study examined, in a 2 x 3 factorial design, the effects of leader persistence and leader behavior on evaluations of the leader and attributions of leadership. One hundred twenty -six Indian engineering undergraduates responded to one -page scenario depicting leader persistence and leader behavior. They were randomly assigned to each of the treatment conditions, with 21 subjects per cell. Results indicated that both the evaluations of leader and attributions of leadership were significantly influenced by the interaction between leader persistence and leader behavior. Certain main effects, as expected, of leader behavior and leader persistence were also observed. Implication of the findings for those in leadership ro les are discussed, and directions for future research suggested. Since leadership is being viewed in recent years as a reciprocal influence process (Hollander & Julian, 1969), the question of how leader behavior is evaluated needs to be investigated systematically. T...