The Study of Leadership

The study of leadership is a multidisciplinary field; its principles are based on leadership involved in the context of human life and organizations. This field has its origins in humanities, such as history and philosophy, as well as social sciences, i.e.: psychology and sociology.

The field of leadership study has attracted scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds throughout its history; its origins can be traced back to minds the likes of Plato and Sun Tzu. A modern leadership degree focuses on various aspects of human psychology and behavior as they relate to being led and becoming leaders. These aspects are examined using three research methodologies: quantitative, qualitative and mixed. The aim of these methods is to teach students how to understand and analyze social and psychological phenomena. Behavioral sciences are also intimately intertwined with these studies.

How is Quantitative Research Used?

Quantitative research is a mathematical and computational technique used to support or disprove a hypothesis. Using this research method, a wide variety of participants will be asked a question, or series of questions, and the answers will be mapped and analyzed. The general idea is that the numbers will produce results that can be accurately summarized to apply to a larger population.

This research methodology is used to create new leadership scales and also allows for the examining of existing leadership tools. As more data is collected using this methodology, new methods are established that help further define aspects of leadership and what is required of a leader. It provides students with a statistical representation of a specific psychological outlook held by the general populace. Students learn to analyze quantitative data to understand how to be able to lead, or examine leadership potential, of a specific group.

Examples of this type of research are any study that provides data in percentages and raw numbers that support a hypothesis and reach a conclusion. A study done at the John Hopkins Monthly Safety Dashboard measured key strategic priorities, such as the culture of safety and hygiene. The studies found that there was not enough accountability in the organization; only 30 percent of leaders’ incentive programs were based on utilizing proper safety. This is a prime example of how quantitative research was conducted to reach a conclusion that was then analyzed to create actionable information.

How is Qualitative Research Used?

Qualitative research methodologies are less concerned with raw statistics of numbers. Instead, they investigate the how and why of decision-making. This is a key area where behavioral science and leadership study link. Qualitative information relies on particular case studies and can only reach more general conclusions.

Data is collected with a variety of approaches, such as storytelling, participant observation and focus groups. The execution of approaches varies dramatically based on the particular strategy that is employed by the researcher. With a participant observation, researchers will become members of a culture or group and conform to their environment. Their goal is a deeper understanding of that culture’s motivations and emotions. Another popular method of data collection is a focus group, where a moderator will seek to understand a group of individual’s reactions and feelings about a certain topic. Advertisers, for example, commonly use focus groups.

This type of research is often used with behavioral sciences to examine the reasoning behind why an individual, or group, will react a certain way. Students in the study of leadership learn to analyze qualitative studies to gain a general insight into the motivations and emotions of a particular group about a particular subject.

How is Mixed Research Used?

Mixed research is a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. This is perhaps the most common method employed, as it combines the benefits of both methodologies and together they are able to reach more precise conclusions.

Conventionally, a qualitative case study will be performed to reach a general conclusion about a certain topic. This conclusion will help to formulate a quantitative study, which seeks to garner empirical evidence as it relates to the qualitative conclusion. This data may or may not support this conclusion.

Mixed research methodology is used to completely analyze the way the population, or specific demographic, will react and respond to leadership principles. It can also be used along with leadership models to determine candidates for leadership roles.