An empirical analysis of the correlations between leadership status and participation rates reported in the literature.

Many studies of small group leadership have reported a positive relationship between leadership status and the rate of verbal participation. The leadership/participation relationship has been attributed to (a) the performance of task leadership behaviors, (b) task skill and knowledge, (c) social status characteristics, and (d) the presence of observers. Hypotheses based on these 4 explanations were generated and tested using 72 correlations reported in the literature as data points. The relationship of a large number of situational variables to the leadership/participation rate relationship was also examined. In a multiple regression analysis, 4 variables accounted for 63% of the variance in the leadership/participation rate correlations. The 1st 3 explanations were supported. They can be integrated if the moderating effect of task competence and social status on the performance of task leadership behavior is recognized. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)