Path-Goal Theory Test Bank

Test Bank Path-Goal Theory Multiple Choice 1. Path-goal theory could be best described as a ______. A. great person theory B. transformational theory C. motivational theory D. behavioral theory Ans: C 2. Using the path-goal approach, expectancy theory suggests that ______. A. leaders' needs and followers' needs overlap B. followers are motivated if they think completing a task will result in a valuable payoff C. a leader should try to help followers reach their fullest potential D. followers are motivated regardless of ability Ans: B 3. In path-goal theory, the three main components are ______. A. leader style, follower characteristics, and work setting B. supportive leadership, directive leadership, and participative leadership C. follower characteristics, task characteristics, and supportive leadership D. leadership, followers, and task Ans: A 4. The researcher who consistently studied path-goal theory from the 1970s to 1990s is ______. A. Bass B. Hersey C. Vroom D. House Ans: D 5. Path–goal theory is similar to the situational approach in that ______. A. path–goal does not suggest leaders should be flexible B. path–goal does not take followers into consideration C. path–goal requires leaders to adapt to followers’ needs D. path–goal and situational both take the work setting into account Ans: C 6. Motivation in path-goal theory is conceptualized using ______. A. psychodynamic theory B. great man theory C. expectancy theory D. leader–member exchange theory Ans: C 7. Leadership generates motivation by ______. A. adjusting style to commitment of followers B. setting high expectations C. using only directive behaviors D. clarifying the path to goal accomplishment Ans: D 8. Leaders adjust their behaviors based on ______. A. follower characteristics and work-setting characteristics B. follower characteristics and follower productivity C. follower characteristics and leader characteristics D. follower characteristics and team prototype Ans: A 9. Expectancy theory is about ______. A. clearing the path for followers B. rewarding followers for meeting their goals C. establishing work group norms D. anticipating leaders’ needs Ans: B 10. The path–goal leader adjusts to the characteristics of the follower and ______. A. the characteristics of the work setting B. the characteristics of the team members C. the prototype of the in-group members D. the skills of the followers Ans: A 11. If an employee is uncertain that her efforts will pay off, then path–goal theory suggests ______. A. the employee should move to the company’s out-group B. the leader should prove that the employee’s effort will be rewarded C. additional obstacles should be introduced to challenge the employee D. the employee is on the wrong path Ans: B 12. The underlying assumption of expectancy theory is that followers will be motivated if ______. A. they believe their leaders are capable B. they believe their leaders are motivated C. they believe they are doing the right thing D. they believe their efforts will result in a certain outcome Ans: D 13. Expectancy theory, when applied in path–goal leadership says ______. A. leaders need to find the right reward to motivate followers B. make the same rewards available to all followers C. leaders should show motivation in multiple ways D. followers are expected to motivate other followers Ans: A 14. Which researcher(s) focused on how leaders motivate followers to accomplish designated goals? A. Kotter B. Fisher C. Hersey and Blanchard D. House Ans: D 15. Which researcher(s) conceptualized motivation from the perspective of the expectancy theory of motivation? A. Kotter and Bennis B. Vroom C. Hersey and Blanchard D. House Ans: B 16. Which two path–goal leader behaviors are also leader behaviors in the situational approach? A. participative and directive B. supportive and authoritative C. supportive and directive D. achievement-oriented and directive Ans: C 17. Which of the following leadership theories expects the leader to continually be concerned about subordinate motivation? A. situational leadership theory B. contingency theory C. path-goal theory D. leader–member exchange theory Ans: C 18. Path–goal theory is about how leaders ______ subordinates to accomplish designated ______. A. assign; tasks B. allow; goals C. motivate; goals D. influence; tasks Ans: C 19. The directive leadership behavior in path-goal theory is similar to ______. A. delegating in the SLII model B. initiating structure in the Ohio State studies C. consideration in the University of Michigan studies D. employee orientation in the University of Michigan studies Ans: B 20. It is accurate to say that directive leadership ______. A. attempts to make work challenging B. provides performance standards C. invites shared decision making D. is feedback oriented Ans: B 21. Your supervisor gives you a new project. You are informed that you have exactly 1 week to complete it and are handed an outline of what the final project should resemble. According to path–goal theory, which behavior best describes your supervisor? A. supportive B. directive C. participative D. achievement oriented Ans: B 22. Each week your supervisor holds a meeting to which he invites you and all the other employees to give feedback regarding current projects. According to path-goal theory, which behavior best describes your supervisor? A. supportive B. directive C. participative D. achievement oriented Ans: C 23. According to path–goal theory, leadership does all of the following except ______. A. clarifies the path to reaching goals B. defines the goals for the follower C. provides support to the follower D. introduces challenging obstacles Ans: D 24. Challenging followers to perform work at the highest levels possible is an example of which leadership behavior? A. supportive B. directive C. participative D. achievement oriented Ans: D 25. Followers who have strong needs for affiliation prefer which type of leadership behavior? A. supportive B. directive C. participative D. achievement oriented Ans: A 26. According to path–goal theory, as the followers' perception of their own ability and competence increases, the need for ______. A. supportive leadership goes down B. supportive leadership goes up C. directive leadership goes up D. directive leadership goes down Ans: D 27. According to path–goal theory, directive leadership should be used when employees ______. A. believe that outside circumstances control their lives B. believe they are in charge of their lives C. feel competent to complete their work D. want to help make decisions Ans: A 28. Path–goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to dogmatic/authoritarian followers from a ______. A. directive style B. supportive style C. participative style D. achievement style Ans: A 29. Followers with an internal locus of control believe ______. A. that leaders are in charge of events that occur in their lives B. that fate and change are in charge of events that occur in their lives C. that they are in charge of the events that occur in their lives D. that the organization is in charge of the events that occur in their lives Ans: C 30. House introduced new behaviors in his reformulated path-goal theory in 1996. These include all of the following except ______. A. inherent trait approach B. group-oriented decision process C. work facilitation D. work-group representation and networking Ans: A 31. In contexts where the group norms are weak or non-supportive, leadership assists in building ______ and ______. A. rules; clarification B. cohesiveness; role responsibility C. roles; responsibility D. psychological structure; task clarity Ans: B 32. Path–goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to autonomous group members with unstructured tasks from a ______. A. directive style B. supportive style C. participative style D. achievement style Ans: C 33. Tasks that are unclear and ambiguous call for leadership input that ______. A. provides structure B. provides support C. removes obstacles D. is achievement oriented Ans: A 34. Path–goal theory suggests all of the following except ______. A. that task and subordinate characteristics affect leadership effectiveness B. that leaders should help subordinates around their difficulties by removing obstacles C. that subordinates with an external locus of control should be directed D. that leaders need confidence and articulateness Ans: D 35. With path–goal theory incorporating so many different aspects of leadership within its model, which of the following could be argued? A. the practical use of the theory is not valid B. it fails to determine the role of motivation C. it allows the leader to have a wider range of options as leader D. it is difficult to use the theory fully when trying to improve the leadership process Ans: D 36. Path–goal theory does not clearly show how ______. A. leader behaviors affect follower motivation levels B. motivation is achieved by followers C. whether or not leaders can adapt behaviors to different situations D. the best context for supportive behaviors Ans: A 37. Path–goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to followers who need affiliation from a(n) ______. A. achievement style B. supportive style C. directive style D. participative style Ans: B 38. Path–goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to followers who need clarity and control from a(n) ______. A. achievement style B. supportive style C. directive style D. participative style Ans: D 39. Path–goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to followers who need to excel from a(n) ______. A. achievement style B. supportive style C. directive style D. participative style Ans: A 40. Followers with external locus of control believe ______. A. that fate is in charge of life’s events B. that they are in charge of life’s events C. that interactions with others control life’s events D. that personal relationships control life’s events Ans: A 41. Manuel has a good sense of who he is and is confident that what he does and how he responds to situations will help him achieve his goals. Manuel has ______. A. external locus of control B. need for affiliation C. internal locus of control D. authoritarian disposition Ans: C 42. Susan feels that others in her organization and in her personal life have more influence over her and her career and life path. Susan has ______. A. autonomous locus of control B. need for affiliation C. internal locus of control D. external locus of control Ans: D 43. The new behaviors House identified in his reformulated path-goal review in 1996 have the same essential premise as the original work which is ______. A. to match leader behavior to follower competence and commitment B. to describe task and relationship behaviors C. to identify competencies of leaders D. to give followers what is missing in their workplace Ans: D 44. Leaders who invite their followers to share in the decision-making process are using ______. A. directive behaviors B. achievement behaviors C. supportive behaviors D. participative behaviors Ans: D 45. Leaders who challenge their followers to perform their very best are using ______. A. directive behaviors B. achievement behaviors C. supportive behaviors D. participative behaviors Ans: B 46. Leaders who are friendly and approachable are using ______. A. directive behaviors B. achievement behaviors C. supportive behaviors D. participative behaviors Ans: C 47. Leaders who give followers instructions about task accomplishment are using ______. A. directive behaviors B. achievement behaviors C. supportive behaviors D. participative behaviors Ans: A