PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDITY OF THE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCES SCALE FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

The leader plays a challenging role in public organizations. The context demands specific competencies from leaders to play their role effectively and contribute to achieving institutional objectives. However, measurement instruments still need to be used to meet this context. Thus, this research aimed to create and verify the psychometric validity of an instrument for measuring leadership skills for federal educational institutions. To achieve this objective, the study of a functionalist paradigm, exploratory and descriptive character, with a quantitative approach, adopted survey research. Following approval of the project by the Research Ethics Committee, the prepared electronic questionnaire was disseminated to 1,387 permanent and active employees of a Federal Higher Education Institution. The final sample consisted of 314 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (AFE), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). AFC validated a model with 06 factors, each competence measured originated 03 factors: one related to the knowledge variables; another of skills; and, a factor of attitudes. Furthermore, the AFC confirmed the theory's three basic elements of competence. The AFEs, in turn, indicated the independence between the two competencies, clearly demonstrated by the separation of factors. The study is relevant because it presents the creation process and psychometric properties of a scale for measuring leadership competencies in public higher education.