Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Chapter 3: Understanding Leadership Styles
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. A person’s view of people, work, and human nature shape their ______.
a. personal leadership philosophy
b. outlook on life
c. potential
d. goals and aspirations
2. Douglas McGregor’s theory on leadership is ______.
a. laissez-faire
b. Theory X and Theory Y
c. democratic
d. authoritarian
3. Which of the following is not an assumption of Theory X?
a. People dislike work.
b. People need to be disliked and want to be controlled.
c. People dislike each other.
d. People want security not responsibility.
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
4. Which of the following is an assumption of Theory Y?
a. People like their coworkers.
b. People like and identify with their leader.
c. People believe work conditions will improve.
d. People accept and seek responsibility.
5. A manager views their employees as unmotivated unless a reward is given. This
manager’s views align with which assumption of Theory X?
a. People dislike work because managers are generally irresponsible.
b. People need to be directed and controlled.
c. People want security not responsibility.
d. People will argue unless consequences are strict.
6. Your new manager is highly motivational, gives clear directions and timelines, and is
quick to point out inefficiencies. They likely ascribe to ______ leadership philosophy.
a. Theory X
b. Theory Y
c. Laissez-Faire
d. authoritarian
7. Former President Jimmy Carter and his work in retirement is given as an example of
which philosophy?
a. Theory X
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
b. Theory Y
c. Laissez-Faire
d. Democratic
8. An organization that emphasizes common cultural values, beliefs, and objectives
while highly collaborative is known as a ______.
a. democratic organization
b. Theory Y organization
c. Theory X organization
d. Theory Z organization
9. ______ is defined as the behaviors of leaders, focusing on what leaders do and how
they act.
a. Leadership philosophy
b. Leadership style
c. Assumption #1 of Theory Y
d. Assumption # 2 of Theory Y
10. The authoritarian leadership style is most similar to ______.
a. Theory X
b. Theory Y
c. leader–member exchange theory
d. unrealized strengths
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
11. Which of the following is not used to describe authoritarian leadership?
a. Pessimistic
b. Negative
c. Empowering
d. Discouraging
12. Your new manager requires that all communication is directed towards them and not
circulated among the team, determines and sets goals for the team, and is quick to
praise and criticize. Their behaviors most closely align with which style?
a. Theory Y
b. Laissez-Faire
c. Democratic
d. Authoritarian
13. The outcomes of authoritarian leadership include all of the following except ______.
a. efficient
b. productive
c. submissiveness
d. individuality
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
14. You step in to a new position with management of a team. You notice the team
relies heavily on you to set goals, they never offer new ideas, and they depend on you
to make all decisions. It is likely that your predecessor used which style of leadership?
a. Theory Y
b. Authoritarian
c. Laissez-Faire
d. Democratic
15. Authoritarian leadership can become ______ leadership where leaders coerce
followers to engage in unethical or immoral activities.
a. abusive
b. difficult
c. empowering
d. beneficial
16. ______ leaders provide information, guidance, and suggestions and do so without
applying pressure.
a. Theory X
b. Authoritarian
c. Democratic
d. Laissez-faire
17. Which of the following is an outcome of democratic leadership?
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
a. Efficiency
b. Productive
c. Established goals
d. Cohesiveness
18. Upon interviewing for an internship you notice that the workplace is a positive
environment, people seem engaged in their work, and participative in meetings during
your time there. The leadership of the office likely engages in ______ leadership.
a. democratic
b. Theory X
c. laissez-faire
d. authoritarian
19. Democratic leadership results in greater group member ______.
a. satisfaction
b. commitment
c. cohesiveness
d. all of these
20. You are appointed to head a special project team with a two-week deadline. You
need to be efficient and timely. Which leadership style should you enact?
a. Democratic
b. Laissez-faire
c. Authoritarian
d. Theory Y
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
21. Democratic leadership style is described as having what downside?
a. It takes more time.
b. It negatively impacts followers.
c. It hinders creativity.
d. It negatively impacts leaders.
22. Laissez-faire leadership has been labeled by some as ______.
a. bad leadership
b. nonleadership
c. aggressive leadership
d. negative leadership
23. Outcomes from laissez-faire leadership are ______.
a. directionless followers
b. chaos
c. frustration
d. all of these
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
24. Laissez-faire leaders ______.
a. encourage communication between group members and with the leader
b. engage in minimal influence over followers
c. give objective praise and criticism of workers
d. encourage communication between group members and with the leader and give
objective praise and criticism of workers
25. What theory asserts that workers want to be taken care of and protected by their
leaders?
a. Theory Y
b. Theory X
c. Authoritarian
d. Democratic
26. Theory Y managers believe ______.
a. the average person is inherently resourceful
b. people are more productive when they depend on their bosses
c. people have the capacity to engage in a wide range of goal-setting and problem
solving
d. the average person is inherently resourceful and people have the capacity to engage
in a wide range of goal-setting and problem solving
27. The primary work on styles of leadership (authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire)
was done by ______.
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
a. McGregor
b. Lewin, Lippitt, and White
c. Graen and Uhl-Bien
d. Burns
28. Which of the following are commonly observed styles of leadership?
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Exploratory
d. Authoritarian and democratic
29. Which of the following describes the laissez-faire leadership style?
a. Group members participate in decision making
b. Very little is accomplished
c. Lets employees know rules and standards for what they are supposed to do
d. Leaders are quick to point out inefficiencies
30. Democratic leaders ______.
a. treat subordinates as fully capable of doing work on their own
b. work with subordinates, treating them in an egalitarian manner
c. use hierarchy to separate levels of competence
d. treat subordinates as fully capable of doing work on their own and work with
subordinates, treating them in an egalitarian manner
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
31. When followers are left completely on their own with no direction, they become
______.
a. frustrated
b. happy
c. engaged
d. goal-driven
32. While interning with a company for the summer, you feel the climate is stagnant,
four employees out of twelve leave during your three months there, and few employees
seem to know whats going on or be engaged in their work. The office would appear to
operate under which leadership style?
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Laissez-faire
d. Theory Y
33. Jack’s immediate boss lets him set his own schedule, does not offer support or
direction, and is generally hands-off. Jack’s boss is following which of the following
leadership philosophies?
a. Theory X
b. Theory Y
c. Laissez-faire
d. Democratic
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
34. Helping each subordinate reach their own personal goals is important to ______
leadership.
a. democratic
b. authoritarian
c. laissez-faire
d. Theory X
35. Leaders who exhibit higher amounts of influence over their followers are ______.
a. democratic
b. authoritarian
c. egalitarian
d. laissez-faire
36. Laissez-faire leadership has what impact on follower productivity?
a. Reduces productivity
b. Increases productivity
c. Maintains productivity
d. Ignores productivity