WHAT DOES THE LEAST PREFERRED CO-WORKER SCALE REALLY MEASURE - A COGNITIVE INTERPRETATION

Abstract

THE LEAST PREFERRED CO-WORKER SCALE HAS BEEN VARIOUSLY INTERPRETED AS A MEASURE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE OR AS A MEASURE OF THE COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY OF THE LEADER. IN THIS STUDY, USING 112 SUBJECTS INCLUDING BUSINESS STUDENTS, MANAGERS AND SYSTEMS ANALYSTS, THE LEAST PREFERRED CO-WORKER SCALE SCORES WERE CORRELATED WITH TWO OTHER MEASURES OF DIFFERENTIATION AND WITH THREE COGNITIVE MEASURES (THE SHORT FORM OF ROKEACH'S SCALE TO MEASURE AUTHORITARIANISM AND CLOSED-MINDEDNESS, BUDNER'S SCALE TO MEASURE INTOLERANCE OF AMBIGUITY AND BRIM'S SCALE TO MEASURE DESIRE FOR CERTAINTY) IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSESS THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LPC SCALE AS A COGNITIVE MEASURE. RESULTS SHOW THAT WHILE THE LOW END OF THE LPC SCALE SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH COGNITIVE SIMPLICITY, THE HIGH- LEAST SUBJECT WAS NOT TOTALLY COMPLEX.

Cite this document ^(BETA)