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An assessment of the relationships between information processing, conflict handling and transformational leadership
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An assessment of the relationships between information processing, conflict handling and transformational leadership

Tove Asplund
Masters by Coursework, Murdoch University
2019
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between styles of information processing, conflict handling and transformational leadership. Noting recent linkages between information processing, conflict handling, and transformational leadership; the present study accessed whether transformational leadership could be predicted by information processing and conflict handling styles. (N = 160) pairs of participants (leader/follower) completed online questionnaires. Leaders thinking styles were assessed through the self-rated Rational Experiential Multimodal Inventory and the Constructive Thinking Inventory. Followers rated their leader's frequency of transformational leadership and conflict handling behaviour by completing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Rahim's Organisational Conflict Inventory II, respectively. Bi-variate correlation analyses and multiple regression equations indicated that behavioural coping and the integrating conflict handing style independently predicted perceptions of transformation leadership. Surprisingly rational thinking did not predict perceptions of leadership of conflict handling. Information processing and the integrating conflict handling style did not appear related, instead, only imagination predicted the compromising conflict handling style. The lack of relationships between information processing and conflict handling suggest that conflict handling is unlikely to mediate the relationship between information processing and transformational leadership. Potential reasons to the unexpected results and alterations to hypotheses are suggested. Keywords: Transformational leadership, Conflict handling styles, Constructive thinking, Rational thinking, Experiential thinking

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