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This research addresses the perception of leadership attributes in light of
evaluator and target gender. It specifically investigates whether there is a difference
in language usage when the evaluator is female versus when the evaluator is male.
Two studies were conducted. A pre-test used instrumental development drawing
from studies conducted by Bem (1974) and Berlo et al. (1969). The pre-test sampled
a population of 56 students in a Small Group Problem Solving class at Oregon State
University and used a survey to determine the top six gender attributes used to
describe women (Self-reliant, Sensitive, Understanding, Warm, Affectionate, and
Cheerful) and the top six gender attributes used to describe men (Analytical, Strong
personality, Competitive, Loyal, Assertive, and Dominant).
The present study consisted of a survey that placed the 12 attributes on
semantic differential scales. A population of 54 students in a Small Group Problem
Solving class at Oregon State University used the scales to indicate to what degree
the target displayed the attribute in question. The gender of the evaluator and target
were coded and six group comparisons were run to determine measures of statistical
significance. Significant results were found for 13 out of 96 individual attribute
comparisons.
Because only a few individual attribute comparisons were found to be
significant, future research could return to Bem’s (1974) study and replicate it in new
populations to determine its validity and reliability. |
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