Date of Award

1-1-1980

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to test for differences in perceived leadership styles and assertive characteristics among graduates from a diploma, and associate degree, a four-year baccalaureate, and an upper-division baccalaureate nursing program. Two research questions were asked: (1) Are there significant differences in perceived leadership styles among graduates of the four programs? and (2) Are there significant differences in perceived assertive characteristics among graduates of the four programs? The sample was comprised of thirty-five diploma, forty-two associate degree, twenty-four baccalaureate, an eighteen upper-division baccalaureate nursing students who were all within a few days of graduation. Three instruments were used in the study: the Leadership Opinion Questionnaire, the Assertion Inventory, and a personal data form.The results indicated that there were no significant differences (p > .05) among the graduates of the four programs related to consideration and structure as perceived leadership styles. There were significant differences (p < .05) for degree of discomfort and response probability scores which were used to represent perceived assertive characteristics. The upper-division baccalaureate nursing students had significantly less discomfort and were significantly (p < .05) more likely to take assertive action than students in the diploma, associate degree, or four-year baccalaureate nursing programs. There were no significant (p > .05) differences among the four groups related to self-reported grade ranking, sex, number of organizational memberships held, or the number of responsible positions held within the organizations. The upper-division baccalaureate nursing students had significantly (p < .05) more work experience than students in each of the other three programs and were significantly (p < .05) older than students in the associate degree and four-year baccalaureate nursing programs.Leadership profiles indicated that the most dominant leadership profile for students in each of the four programs was one of high consideration and low structure. Assertion profiles indicated that the "Assertive" profile was the most dominant profile for the upper-division and associate degree nursing students, the "Assertive" and "Anxious Performer" profiles were equally dominant for the four-year baccalaureate nursing students, and the "Unassertive" profile was the most dominant profile for the diploma nursing students.Four conclusions were reached as a result of data analysis and the review of the literature. (1) There were no significant differences in leadership styles among the four programs based on the responses from the graduates. (2) Leadership profiles are more likely to demonstrate differences among graduates of diploma, associate degree, four-year baccalaureate, and upper-division baccalaureate nursing programs than are the individual scores for specific leadership styles. (3) Upper-Division (RN) nursing students perceived themselves to be more assertive than did diploma, associate degree, or four-year baccaluareate nursing students even when age and previous work experience in health related settings are considered as covariates with specific assertion characteristics. (4) More than 40% of the graduates of these diploma, associate degree, and four-year baccalaureate nursing programs can be placed in "Anxious Performer" or "Unassertive" profiles.

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