The effects of subordinates' locus-of-control and perceived task ability on their expectancies and choice of leadership style: A test of path-goal leadership theory
Description
This study investigated path-goal leadership theory tenets relating how individual difference factors of locus of control (LOC) and perceived task ability and situational knowledge of task expectancy affected leadership style preferences. Major hypotheses involved LOC and perceived task ability's effects on choice of leader style preference with no knowledge of task expectancy, high E $\to$ P expectancy (i.e., expectancy of effort leading to successful performance, but no P $\to$ O knowledge), and high P $\to$ O expectancy (i.e., expectancy that successful performance results in desired outcomes, but no E $\to$ P knowledge). It was predicted that without any task expectancy knowledge, internals with high ability would prefer participative leaders while those with low ability would prefer directive leaders. Powerful other LOC subjects were predicted to prefer directive leaders regardless of task ability. Chance LOC subjects were hypothesized to prefer participative styles with high ability and directive styles with low ability. With high E $\to$ P expectancies, all LOC types were predicted to prefer participative leaders regardless of ability. With high P $\to$ O expectancies, all LOC and ability types were expected to prefer directive leaders. Subjects were 120 undergraduates, 40 each who were internal, powerful other or chance oriented on the LOC scale. A 0-12 leader preference profile (LPP) scale measured style preference. Subjects believed they had either high or low task ability. Subjects indicated initial style preference for a subsequent task on the LPP. Subjects then read the high E $\to$ P task description and indicated style preference on another LPP. The same procedure was followed for the high P $\to$ O task. A significant Ss/LOC x perceived ability x leader style x knowledge of task expectancy interaction indicated P-LOC subjects did not, as hypothesized, prefer participative leaders in the E $\to$ P situation but preferred directive leaders across all ability and knowledge of task expectancy conditions. C-LOC and I-LOC persons exhibited the predicted preferences. These subjects preferred participative leaders when ability was high and/or some control over performance was perceived (i.e., the E $\to$ P situation). When ability was low and/or there was no perceived control over performance (i.e., the P $\to$ O situation), then these subjects preferred directive leaders. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed