SOME FACTORS AFFECTING LEADERSHIP CLIMATE IN A STATE PAROLE AGENCY

• NCJ Number: 64984
• Journal: Pacific Sociological Review Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 108-118
• Author(s): A G KERN; H M BAHR
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A STUDY INVESTIGATING THE 'TRANSFER' OF STYLES OF SUPERVISION FROM HIGHER RANKING PERSONS TO THEIR SUBORDINATES WITHIN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON'S DIVISION OF PROBATION AND PAROLE IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

FEW EXISTING STUDIES DEAL WITH THE LEADERSHIP CLIMATE IN NORMATIVE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENCIES. IN THIS STUDY, IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT OFFICERS WITH ASSISTIVE SUPERVISORS (CASEWORK-AND REHABILITATION-ORIENTED) WOULD TEND TO BE ASSISTIVE TOWARD THEIR CLIENTS, AND THAT OFFICERS WITH PUNITIVE SUPERVISORS, (ORIENTED PRIMARILY TO COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES) WOULD TEND TO MANIFEST PUNITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR CLIENTS. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM STAFF MEMBERS OF THE PAROLE AGENCY THROUGH ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES TO A DETAILED QUESTIONNAIRE. THE RETURN RATE OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES WAS 92 PERCENT. THE FIRST SECTION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE INCLUDED QUESTIONS ON SEX, AGE, EDUCATION, COLLEGE MAJOR, AND RELATED EMPLOYMENT. THE STUDY CENTERED UPON TWO IMPORTANT VARIABLES, CONTROL AND ASSISTANCE. THE QUESTIONNAIRE INCLUDED TWO SETS OF FIVE QUESTIONS, ONE A CONTROL SCALE AND THE OTHER AN ASSISTANCE SCALE. RESPONSES TO THESE ITEMS WERE DICHOTOMIZED, WITH A POSITIVE RESPONSE COUNTING ONE POINT TOWARD A CONTROL OR ASSISTANCE SCORE AND A NEGATIVE RESPONSE COUNTING ZERO. IN ADDITION, THE QUESTIONNAIRE CONTAINED ITEMS ABOUT HOW FREQUENTLY THE RESPONDENT PERSONALLY CONSULTED WITH HIS SUPERVISOR. FINDINGS DID NOT SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS; THE PREDICTED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OFFICERS' AND SUPERVISORS' ATTITUDES DID NOT APPEAR. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT INCREASED INTERACTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS INCREASES THE SIMILARITY OF THEIR ATTITUDES. FINDINGS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPERVISOR-OFFICER INTERACTION AND JUSTIFY FURTHER INQUIRIES ABOUT THE UTILITY OF 'LEADERSHIP CLIMATE' AS AN EXPLANATION FOR COMPLIANCE AND ATTITUDINAL CONSENSUS IN BUREAUCRATIC SETTINGS. TABLES, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY. (LWM)