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Original Article

The Discriminant Validity of Transformational and Transactional Leadership

A Multitrait-Multimethod Analysis of and Norms for the German Transformational Leadership Inventory (TLI)

Published Online:June 02, 2011https://doi.org/10.1027/1866-5888/a000032

Abstract

The well known constructs of transformational and transactional leadership are still facing problems concerning their discriminant validity as substantive correlations have frequently been observed between them. Nine samples, including 178 supervisors and their 834 followers, completed the German version of the Transformational Leadership Inventory (TLI). Self-ratings and aggregated observer ratings were analyzed using a SEM-based multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) approach. First, the factorial structure was confirmed for both rating perspectives and across them. In the MTMM analysis, controlling for the method effects reduced the correlations between leadership constructs from a high to a small resp. medium level and the leadership scales can be discriminated. Facilitating the use of the TLI in practical issues, norms are provided for self and observer ratings.

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