Scores on Indicators of Leadership Skills, Locus of Control, and Self-Actualization for Student Leaders in Grades 6 to 10

Measures of leadership skills, self-actualization, and locus of control for 105 student leaders in Grades 6 through 10 (36 boys and 69 girls) were examined using the Leadership Skills Inventory, Reflections of Self by Youth, and the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children. Several significant grade differences but no significant gender differences were found on the measures. Correlations (.23 to .91) between scores were significantly different from zero.

Leadership Skills and Self-Actualization of School-Age Children1

In a correlational study of leadership concepts and skills and self-actualization, 95 school-age students in Grades 6 to 12 completed both the Leadership Skills Inventory and Reflections of Self by Youth. All correlations (.78—.93) were significant ( p<.05).

Assessment of the Concurrent Validity of the Leadership Skills Inventory with Gifted Students and Their Teachers

60 students currently enrolled in state-approved public school programs for the gifted at Grades 6 and 7 were given the Leadership Skills Inventory. Four certified teachers of these students were asked to complete an inventory on each subject to assess its concurrent validity. On mean T scores of students and mean teachers' ratings of students t-tests showed no significant differences between the means of the students and ratings of two teachers who had several years of experience teaching gifted students and who had more experience with the inventory. It was concluded that the inventory should be used primarily as a self-rating instrument.

Assessment of Criterion-Related Validity of the Leadership Skills Inventory

This study was designed to assess criterion-related validity of the Leadership Skills Inventory. The student subjects were 113 girls and boys (Grades 6–11) who had recently completed a 1-wk. Leadership Studies Program. Adult subjects were 55 community leaders who were chosen by a panel to represent arts, business, government, professions, and civic activities. Both groups completed the inventory. Mean self-rating for the children who had completed the training leadership was higher than mean self-rating of adults. Results are consistent with the criterion-related validity of the instrument.