Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
52. I am doing a task I find very boring and unchallenging. Which leadership style would help
me the most?
a. Directive behaviors
b. Participative behaviors
c. Supportive behaviors
d. Achievement behaviors
53. I am doing a task that is really difficult to understand, and I want to clarify the task and work
out the details myself. Which leadership style would help me the most?
a. Directive behaviors
b. Participative behaviors
c. Supportive behaviors
d. Achievement behaviors
54. This challenging new project is exciting and I cannot wait to see how great it is going to be
when I am finished. Which leadership style would help me the most?
a. Directive behaviors
b. Participative behaviors
c. Supportive behaviors
d. Achievement behaviors
55. For task characteristics that are ambiguous, how many possible leader behaviors might be
used?
a. 1
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
56. For task characteristics that are complex, how many possible leader behaviors might be used?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
57. For task characteristics that are mundane and repetitive, how many possible leader behaviors
might be used?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
58. Followers who need a high level of human interaction need
a. Directive leadership
b. Participative leadership
c. Supportive leadership
d. Achievement-oriented leadership
59. Followers who have internal locus of control benefit from
a. Directive leadership
b. Participative leadership
c. Supportive leadership
d. Achievement-oriented leadership
60. Followers with the desire to exceed expectations benefit from
a. Directive leadership
b. Participative leadership
c. Supportive leadership
d. Achievement-oriented leadership
61. Followers who prefer authoritarian leadership benefit from
a. Directive leadership
b. Participative leadership
c. Supportive leadership
d. Achievement-oriented leadership
62. My job is data entry, which I do all day long every day of the week. This is a(n)
a. Complex task characteristic
b. Ambiguous task characteristic
c. Challenging task characteristic
d. Mundane task characteristic
63. My job’s policies and procedures change regularly. This is a(n)
a. Complex task characteristic
b. Unclear task characteristic
c. Challenging task characteristic
d. Mundane task characteristic
64. My job does not have set ways of doing each task. This is a(n)
a. Complex task characteristic
b. Ambiguous task characteristic
c. Repetitive task characteristic
d. Unchallenging task characteristic
65. My job has many pieces that stretch my ability every day. This is a(n)
a. Challenging task characteristic
b. Repetitive task characteristic
c. Unclear task characteristic
d. Mundane task characteristic
66. My job as a leader using path-goal theory is to use a style that
a. That best fits the followers’ needs
b. That best fits the followers’ needs and the type of job they are doing
c. That best fits the leader’s style and the followers’ work style
d. That best fits the followers’ characteristics
67. I am really frustrated and unsatisfied with my work right now. I need my leader to
a. Nurture me
b. Involve me
c. Challenge me
d. Direct me
68. I am tired of doing the same old boring job. I need my leader to
a. Challenge me
b. Involve me
c. Support me
d. Direct me
69. I am doing a job that has ambiguous rules for which I need clarity. I need my leader to
a. Challenge me
b. Involve me
c. Nurture me
d. Direct me
70. A strength of the path-goal theory is
a. It is very complex and has many aspects to it
b. Empirical research partially supports its validity
c. It attempts to integrate motivation from expectancy theory
d. It clearly explains the relationship between motivation and leader behaviors
71. Path-goal theory
a. Is not a practical model
b. Is a practical model
c. Is not prescriptive
d. Has high validity
72. Which is not a criticism of the path-goal theory?
a. It attempts to integrate motivation from expectancy theory
b. Empirical research only partially supports its validity
c. It is very complex and has many aspects to it
d. It does not clearly explain the relationship between motivation and leader behaviors
73. There are multiple leader behaviors, task characteristics, and follower characteristics in path-
goal theory that must be assessed correctly and integrated for effective leadership. This is a
a. Strength of path-goal theory
b. Criticism of path-goal theory
c. Leader benefit of path-goal theory
d. Organizational benefit of path-goal theory
74. Principles of path-goal theory
a. Are applied in many leadership training programs
b. Easy for leaders to apply to their followers
c. Consistent with organizational leadership training topics
d. Can be used for all types of tasks at all levels of leadership
75. An advantage of using path-goal theory is
a. It connects both work tasks and leader-member exchanges for effective leadership
b. It connects both work setting and skill development of followers
c. It connects the work tasks and follower needs for effective leadership
d. It connects leaders with followers by focusing on followers first
76. Path-goal theory was developed to
a. Explain how leaders motivate followers to be satisfied and successful in their work
b. Explain how to get all followers in the in-group
c. Explain how motivation improves follower service orientation
d. Explain how authoritarian leader behaviors are inappropriate in the work setting
Multiple Selection
77. The leader behaviors in path-goal include
a. Directive
b. Coaching
c. Delegating
d. Participative
78. Which of the following is not a leader behavior in path-goal theory?
a. Directive
b. Coaching
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
c. Delegating
d. Participative
79. The underlying assumption in expectancy theory is that followers will be motivated
a. If they can do the work
b. If they have good exchanges with their leaders
c. If their efforts will result in a likely outcome
d. If they get a reward that has value to them
True/False
80. Path-goal theory is based on motivation principles drawn from expectancy theory.
a. True
b. False
81. A disadvantage of path-goal theory is that its approach could foster subordinate dependency.
a. True
b. False
82. According to path-goal theory, directive communication is least effective when followers are
inexperienced and when the task is unstructured.
a. True
b. False
83. Once a leader adjusts his/her style to match a follower’s needs, he/she should continue to use
that style with that follower.
a. True
b. False
84. According to path-goal theory, achievement-oriented leadership is most effective in settings
where followers are required to perform unambiguous tasks.
a. True
b. False
85. Path-goal leadership is not a trait approach that locks leaders into only one kind of
leadership.
a. True
b. False
86. According to path-goal theory, when jobs are very complex, supportive leadership should be
provided.
a. True
b. False
87. In work settings where the formal authority system is weak, leadership becomes a tool that
helps subordinates by making the rules and work requirements clear.
a. True
b. False
88. Path-goal theory predicts that subordinates who have strong needs for affiliation prefer
directive leadership.
a. True
b. False
89. Participative leadership is effective with subordinates who have a strong need to control
(internal locus of control).
a. True
b. False
90. Path-goal leadership is an approach to leadership for which many management-training
programs have been developed.
a. True
b. False
91. Path-goal theory is a lot like coaching and mentoring in Mumford’s Skills Model.
a. True
b. False
92. Supportive behaviors in path-goal theory are similar to supportive behaviors in the situational
approach.
a. True
b. False
93. Path-goal theory predicts that subordinates who are authoritarian prefer directive leadership.
a. True
b. False
94. According to path-goal theory, when jobs are very complex, participative leadership should
be provided.
a. True
b. False
95. Research on path-goal theory found significant validity for the model.
a. True
Essay
96. In path-goal theory, when tasks are ambiguous, three different styles of leadership are
prescribed. How would a leader know which one to choose?
97. How can a leader’s style affect a follower’s motivation?
98. Path-goal theory is criticized for its over-emphasis on the leader and not so much on the
follower. This may lead to follower dependence on the leader. What would you recommend to an
organization wanting to avoid such outcomes? Use specific behaviors of the leader and give
examples.
99. Both the directive and supportive leader behaviors in the path-goal approach are quite similar
to the leader behaviors of the same name in the situational approach. Participative and
achievement-oriented behaviors are different from the other two behaviors in situational
approach (coaching and delegating). Compare and contrast these four behaviors using your
knowledge of both the situational approach and path-goal approach.
100. One of the follower characteristics in path-goal theory is perception of ability. As
perception of ability goes up, directive leadership should go down. Why is this? And what is the
effect on the follower if directive leadership continues to be used?
