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The Effects of Personality and Perceived Leader Behaviors on Performance in Collegiate Football

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Abstract

The present study used a multidimensional model of leadership (Chelladurai & Carron, 1978) to examine the influence of personality traits and perceived leader behaviors on performance in collegiate football. Collegiate football players (N = 272) from three southeastern United States universities were administered Cattells Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and the Leadership Scale for Sports and were subsequently grouped into three athletic performance categories (regulars, substitutes, and survivors). Regression analyses indicated that personality traits and leader behaviors taken together contribute significantly to the prediction of performance. Players who were more group dependent, tough-minded, extroverted, emotionally stable and who perceived their coach as offering more training and instruction, having a democratic decision style, being more socially supportive, and offering more positive feedback were associated with higher levels of performance, whereas players who perceived their coach as having an autocratic decision-style were associated with lower levels of performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Daniel J. Garland & John R. Barry

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  1. Daniel J. Garland
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  2. John R. Barry
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Additional information

A portion of this research was presented at the 95th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in New York City, New York, August, 1987. The authors express their gratitude to Dr. Bruce K. Britton, Dr. Rod K. Dishman, and Dr. S. David Leonard for their suggestions and comments in the conduct and interpretation of this research.

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Garland, D.J., Barry, J.R. The Effects of Personality and Perceived Leader Behaviors on Performance in Collegiate Football. Psychol Rec 38, 237–247 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395019

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