Transactional versus transformational leadership: An analysis of the MLQ

TLDR

The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) is a widely used instrument for assessing transformational, transactional, and laissez‑faire leadership styles. This study tests the factor structure of the MLQ as originally developed by Bass and Avolio. Using the MLQ‑8Y, 700 employees from eight Dutch organizations rated their leaders, and the internal consistency of Bass’s scales was evaluated. Factor analyses confirmed the presence of the three leadership types but revealed that the transactional and laissez‑faire scales differ from Bass’s originals, resulting in an adapted MLQ with fewer items.

Abstract

A questionnaire used often to measure transformational, transactional and laissez‐faire leadership is the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire developed by Bass (Bass & Avolio, 1989). This study aims to test the factor structure of the MLQ as developed by Bass & Avolio. The MLQ‐8Y was analysed using data collected in Dutch organizations. Seven hundred employees from eight organizations rated their leader's behaviour with the MLQ. First, an indication of the internal consistency of the scales developed by Bass is reported. The results of subsequent factor analyses show that the three types of leadership can be found in the data; however, the scales found here are slightly different from Bass' scales. Especially, the transactional and laissez‐faire scales have been altered on theoretical and empirical grounds. The adapted version of the MLQ covers the domain with fewer items.