A STUDY OF LEADERSHIP STYLE, SITUATION FAVORABLENESS, AND THE RISK TAKING BEHAVIOR OF LEADERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk taking behavior of school principals (the dependent variable) identified according to one of two leadership styles by Fielder's Esteem for Least Preferred Co‐worker instrument. Situation specific dilemmas were formulated for the study in a newly developed instrument which manipulated two situation specific independent variables (position power and group support). The findings support the contention that situation variables have a significant effect on the risk disposition of school leaders though no evidence was found to suggest that leader type (task oriented or relations oriented) may be determined by manifest differences in either observed risk disposition or computed risk shift.