Overlapping semantics of leadership and heroism: Expectations of omnipotence, identification with ideal leaders and disappointment in real managers

Arnulf, Jan Ketil; Larsen, Kai R.

doi:10.15714/scandpsychol.2.e3

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…More precise semantic estimates: This study applied semantics from the MI algorithm only. It is shown elsewhere that a combination of semantic algorithms will have incremental explanatory power (Arnulf & Larsen, 2015;Arnulf et al, 2014). Also, other computational methods have been shown to produce similar results and could possibly be combined with what we do here (Gefen & Larsen, 2017;Nimon et al, 2016).…”

Section: Final Discussion and Suggestions For Future Researchsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…The STSR has argued and empirically documented that up to 86% of the variation in correlations among items in organizational behavior (OB) can be explained through their semantic properties (Arnulf & Larsen, 2015;Arnulf et al, 2014). Such strong predictors of response patterns imply that it is possible to reverse the equations and use semantics to create realistic survey responses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Respondent Robotics: Simulating Responses to Likert-Scale Survey Items

2018

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The semantic theory of survey responses (STSR) proposes that the prime source of statistical covariance in survey data is the degree of semantic similarity (overlap of meaning) among the items of the survey. Because semantic structures are possible to estimate using digital text algorithms, it is possible to predict the response structures of Likert-type scales a priori. The present study applies STSR in an experimental way by computing real survey responses using such semantic information. A sample of 153 randomly chosen respondents to the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used as target. We developed an algorithm based on unfolding theory, where data from digital text analysis of the survey items served as input. Upon deleting progressive numbers (from 20%-95%) of the real responses, we let the algorithm replace these with simulated ones, and then compared the simulated datasets with the real ones. The simulated scores displayed sum score levels, alphas, and factor structures highly resembling their real origins even if up to 86% were simulated. In contrast, this was not the case when the same algorithm was operating without access to semantic information. The procedure was briefly repeated on a different measurement instrument and a different sample. This not only yielded similar results but also pointed to need for further theoretical and practical developments. Our study opens for experimental research on the effect of semantics on survey responses using computational procedures.

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Section: Final Discussion and Suggestions For Future Researchsupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respondent Robotics: Simulating Responses to Likert-Scale Survey Items

2018

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“…The purpose of this study was to present, explain, and explore how semantic algorithms can be accessed and applied to research in HRD. Building on previous research on the relationships between semantics and survey research in management (Arnulf & Larsen, ; Larsen & Bong, ; Nimon et al, ) as well as the STSR (Arnulf et al, ; Arnulf, Larsen, Martinsen, & Bong, ), we reanalyzed a previously published study on the relationship between perceptions of training and work outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There now exist a number of publications that have applied semantic algorithms to the study of organizational behavior (OB) and related disciplines. Semantic patterns were found to explain as much as 69% of the variance in correlations between items measuring employee engagement (Nimon, Shuck, & Zigarmi, ) and more than 86% in surveys on leadership and motivation (Arnulf & Larsen, ; Arnulf, Larsen, Martinsen, & Bong, ). Semantic algorithms are also able to predict factor structures in surveys on technology acceptance (Gefen & Larsen, ) as well as identifying and separating overlapping constructs in social science in general (Larsen & Bong, ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Measuring semantic components in training and motivation: A methodological introduction to the semantic theory of survey response

Arnulf

Dysvik

Larsen

2018

Human Resource Dev Quarterly

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This is a methodological presentation of the relationship between semantics and survey statistics in human resource development (HRD) research. This study starts with an introduction to the semantic theory of survey response (STSR) and proceeds by offering a guided approach to conducting such analyses. The reader is presented with two types of semantic algorithms and a brief overview of how they are calculated and how they can be accessed by interested researchers. Subsequently, we use semantic data to reanalyze a previously published study on the relationships between perceptions of a trainee program, intrinsic motivation, and work outcomes. The semantic algorithms can explain between 31 and 55% of the variation in the observed correlations. This article shows how the statistical models originally used to explore the survey data can be replicated using semantics either alone or as an identifiable source of variation in the data. All the steps are presented in detail, and the datasets as well as the statistical syntax necessary to perform the analyses are made available to the readers. Implications for methodology and the improvement of predictive validity in HRD research are discussed.

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“…The leadership-as-practice approach to leadership studies represents an alternative to the mainstream leadership literature that informs leaders on what they ought to do in order to lead effectively (Arnulf and Larsen 2015). In a practice-based approach, the focus is on the daily practice of leadership and how actors 'get on' with the work of leadership as well as the emergent and dynamic processes of these practices (Whittington 1996;Chia and Holt 2006;Crevani and Endrissat 2016;Dovey et al 2016).…”

Section: Leadership As Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Police leadership as a professional practice

Filstad

Karp

2020

Policing and Society

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In this paper, we investigate police leadership through of an alternative approach to management studies: the exploration of police leadership as a practice. Our aim is to ascertain whether a practice-based approach can increase our knowledge of police leadership. This approach represents an alternative to normative management models which have dominated the management literature. The normative approach often focuses on how police leaders must lead as well as on the traits and skills of police leaders. In contrast, our focus is on what leaders do and why and, therefore, what constitutes their professional leadership practices. We conducted qualitative explorative studies with Norwegian police leaders in 2016 and 2018. Our data were collected through the following means: a one-day shadowing of 27 police leaders, six weeks of fieldwork, 63 formal interviews of police leaders and a substantial number of informal conversations with police leaders and subordinates. In our analysis of leadership as practice, we recognise the importance of structural, cultural and contextual conditions as well as the emergent and dynamic nature of leadership practices. We identified four important practice dynamics: producing, relating, interpreting/sensemaking and negotiating. These practice dynamics were concerned with the relationships between leader(s) and employees, often characterised by the following. 'Taking care of each other' and 'us against them' within a leadership practice. Interpretations and sensemaking of the 'reality' within practices and production of policing as collective achievements. The language, symbols; artefacts, the police mission in relation to how it belongs/identifies with the practice and the negotiations of police leaders 'fighting' for resources (silos). And the continuously creation of manoeuvring spaces in what constitute police leaders´ professional practice.

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Overlapping semantics of leadership and heroism: Expectations of omnipotence, identification with ideal leaders and disappointment in real managers

Abstract: Scandinavian Psychologist, 2(2015)e3http://dx.doi.org/10. 15714/scandpsychol.2.e3 This is an open access journal available at http://psykologisk.no/sp/ Articles can be deposited in the institutional repository provided its original source is cited clearly.psykologisk.no

Cited by 13 publications

References 57 publications

Respondent Robotics: Simulating Responses to Likert-Scale Survey Items

Respondent Robotics: Simulating Responses to Likert-Scale Survey Items

Measuring semantic components in training and motivation: A methodological introduction to the semantic theory of survey response

Police leadership as a professional practice

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