title: Leadership: validation of a self-report scale.
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.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences de la Gestion, Université du Québec a Trois-Rivières, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, Canada G9A 5H7. Marc.Dussault@uqtr.ca
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dussault
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frenette
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011792:Quebec; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires