The discriminant validity of the Leader Reward and Punishment Questionnaire (LRPQ) and satisfaction with supervision: A two‐sample, factor analytic investigation

Abstract

The conceptualization of leaders as reinforcement mediators is a relatively recent development, which has generated substantial interest in leadership research. Accompanying this new approach has been the development and use of perceived leader reinforcement questionnaires; a rapidly growing literature has developed as a result. This article reports a factor analytic investigation of what is probably the most commonly used and reliable measure in this domain ‐ the Leader Reward and Punishment Questionnaire (LRPQ: Podsakoff, Todor, Grover & Huber, 1984). Using samples of hospital employees ( N = 375) and bankers ( N = 297), with principal axes factor extraction and varimax rotation, the results show relatively good discriminant validity when the LRPQ is factored with the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire's ‘satisfaction with supervision’ items (MSQ: Weiss, Dawis, England & Lofquist, 1967). A consistent pattern of weak to moderate cross‐loadings does exist, however, suggesting that research which employs affective dependent variables may need to interpret cautiously some of the relationships obtained. Avenues for future research are briefly discussed.