Abstract

The primary concern with contemporary leadership research is the limited extent to which the findings can be applied to other types of organizations due to their specific circumstances. This study uses meta-analysis and a systematic review of the literature to identify crucial factors that impact the generalizability of the findings. They are organizational culture, industry type, leadership styles, and contextual variables. The research offers insights into the ability of previous leadership behavior to predict future behavior. Although the study emphasizes the significance of considering contextual sensitivities in leadership research, it proposes effective strategies for enhancing the generalizability, such as utilizing blended methodologies, warning against the fallacy of generalizability, employing a productive causal-modeling framework, expanding eligibility criteria, and targeting multiple sub-populations. The findings of this study have practical implications for leadership development programs and organizational practices, as well as theoretical implications for refining and expanding existing leadership theories.

Keywords

contextual factors, generalizability, leadership research, methodological limitations, organizational leadership

Citation

Hejazi, A. (2024). Assessing the generalizability of leadership research findings. Nuts About Leadership, 1(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10559750