A Test of Path-Goal Theory: Work Values as Moderators of Relations of Leaders and Subordinates

Abstract

The influence of work values on the relationship between leaders' behavior and subordinates' satisfaction was investigated for a sample of college and university instructors (N = 363). Based on path-goal theory of leadership, it was hypothesized that (a) subordinates who are people-oriented would see considerate, but not structured, leader's behavior as a source of satisfaction and (b) subordinates who have self-expressive value orientations would view structured but not considerate, leader's behavior as satisfying. Moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. The results generally did not support the specific predictions: work values did not seem to moderate the relationship between leaders' behavior and satisfaction of subordinates. Instead, both leaders' dimensions and the moderators influenced satisfaction with job and with supervision directly.