A meta-analytic investigation of Fiedler's contingency model of leadership effectiveness

Applied meta-analytic techniques to research testing the statistical validity of F. E. Fiedler's (see record 1966-13161-001) contingency model of leadership effectiveness. Past validations of the model, as well as criticisms of those validations, are reviewed and discussed. A meta-analytic solution is presented as a more satisfactory way to assess the validation evidence quantitatively. This approach was used to examine 145 hypothesis tests validating Fiedler's model, as well as the 33 results on which the model is based. The model was extremely robust in predicting group performance, and through the use of meta-analytic techniques it was found that the inclusion of studies not directly examined in earlier reviews served to increase the model's predictive power. (70 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).