TY - JOUR
T1 - In pursuit of causality in leadership training research: A review and pragmatic recommendations
AU - Martin, Robin
AU - Hughes, David J.
AU - Epitropaki, Olga
AU - Thomas, Geoffrey
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/1/7
Y1 - 2020/1/7
N2 - Although research shows a reliable association between leadership training and positive organizational outcomes, a range of research design issues mean we do not know to what degree the former causes the later. Accordingly, the paper has two main aims. First, to describe the conditions necessary to determine causality in leadership training research and the ability of different research designs to achieve this. Six important, but often ignored, issues associated with determining causality are described (control conditions, sample representation, condition randomization, condition independence, temporal design, and author involvement). Second, to review the extent to which the leadership training literature is able to demonstrate causality. The review shows that the majority of studies do not meet many of the criteria, even the most basic criteria, required to establish causality. Finally, we provide guidelines for designing future research to improve causal identification and is capable of generating meaningful theory and policy recommendations.
AB - Although research shows a reliable association between leadership training and positive organizational outcomes, a range of research design issues mean we do not know to what degree the former causes the later. Accordingly, the paper has two main aims. First, to describe the conditions necessary to determine causality in leadership training research and the ability of different research designs to achieve this. Six important, but often ignored, issues associated with determining causality are described (control conditions, sample representation, condition randomization, condition independence, temporal design, and author involvement). Second, to review the extent to which the leadership training literature is able to demonstrate causality. The review shows that the majority of studies do not meet many of the criteria, even the most basic criteria, required to establish causality. Finally, we provide guidelines for designing future research to improve causal identification and is capable of generating meaningful theory and policy recommendations.
U2 - 10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101375
DO - 10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101375
M3 - Article
VL - 0
JO - The Leadership Quarterly
JF - The Leadership Quarterly
SN - 1048-9843
IS - 0
M1 - 101375
ER -