Despite Lewin’s identification of the importance of context in behavioral research over 70 years ago, leadership psychology tended to ignore the context. Only in the past 10 years has context been more routinely included in psychological leadership research. We provide examples of leadership research that has explored the context, introduce the special issue articles, and provide suggestions for future research on the context of leadership.
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2.
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Antonakis, J., Avolio, B.J. & Sivasubramaniam, N.Context and leadership: An examination of the nine-factor full-range leadership theory using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. The Leadership Quarterly, 2003, 14, 261-95.
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7.
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Blair, J.D. & Hunt, J.G.Getting inside the head of the management researcher one more time: Context-free and context-specific orientations in research. Journal of Management, 1986, 12, 147-66.
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13.
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16.
Cogliser, C.C. & Schriesheim, C.A.Exploring work unit context and leader-member exchange: A multi-level perspective . Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2000 , 21, 487-511.
17.
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22.
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Erdogan, B. & Liden, R.C.Social exchanges in the workplace: A review of recent developments and future research directions in leader-member exchange theory. In L.L. Neider & C.A. Schriesheim (Eds), Leadership. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing, 2002, pp. 65-114.
28.
Erdogan, B. & Liden, R.C.Collectivism as a moderator of responses to organizational justice: Implications for leader-member exchange and ingratiation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2006, 27, 1-17.
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Erdogan, B., Liden, R.C. & Kraimer, M.L.Justice and leader-member exchange: The moderating role of organizational culture. Academy of Management Journal, 2006 , 49, 395-406.
30.
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34.
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39.
Henderson, D.J., Wayne, S.J., Shore, L.M., Bommer, W.H. & Tetrick, L.E.Leader-member exchange, differentiation, and psychological contract fulfillment: A multilevel examination. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2008, 93, 1208-19.
40.
Herold, D.M.Two-way influence processes in leader-follower dyads. Academy of Management Journal, 1977, 20, 224-37.
41.
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46.
Jacquart, P., Antonakis, J. & Ramus, C.Does CEO personality matter? Implications for financial performance and corporate social responsibility. International Journal of Psychology , 2008, 43, 596.
47.
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48.
Johns, G.In praise of context. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2001, 22, 31-42.
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Johns, G.The essential impact of context on organizational behavior. Academy of Management Review, 2006, 31, 386-408.
50.
Lai, L., Rousseau, D.M. & Chang, T.T.Idiosyncratic deals: Coworkers as interested third parties. Journal of Applied Psychology, in press.
51.
Lau, D.C. & Liden, R.C.Antecedents of coworker trust: Leaders’ blessings. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2008, 93, 1130-8.
52.
Lester, S.W., Meglino, B.M. & Korsgaard, M.A.The antecedents and consequences of group potency: A longitudinal investigation of newly formed work groups. Academy of Management Journal , 2002, 45, 352-68.
53.
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54.
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56.
Liden, R.C., Erdogan, B., Wayne, S.J. & Sparrowe, R.T.Leader-member exchange, differentiation, and task interdependence: Implications for individual and group performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2006, 27, 723-46.
57.
Liden, R.C., Sparrowe, R.T. & Wayne, S.J.Leader-member exchange theory: The past and potential for the future. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 1997 , 15, 47-119.
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