Using SPSS to Understand Research and Data Analysis.

4.6 The Major Outcome Variable: Performance Effectiveness

In most instances, we can think of the previous variables discussed as the predictor or independent variables in our study. And, in general, we are interested in how these predictor variables impact or relate to a particular outcome variable, leadership effectiveness. However, as you will see, in some instances it may be beneficial to investigate relationships among various predictor variables themselves.

But for now, our task is to consider the major outcome or dependent variable in our project. We are interested in observing differences in this variable as a function of the many predictor variables mentioned above, so that we can implement the policy of promoting individuals within the company who are likely to become effective leaders.

We would need to begin by obtaining measures of Performance Effectiveness for each employee in leadership situations. This could be a rather complicated process, but to simplify things, let's assume that you have asked each employee's supervisor to examine this person's performance within a variety of leadership situations during a six month period. The supervisors are asked to give an overall rating (from 1 to 9) of the employee's performance during these six months, yielding your outcome variable, which we will name perform in our data file.

Scores on the leadership perform variable range from:

• 1 = Not at All Effective
• 9 = Extremely Effective

Many of the SPSS analyses which we will conduct throughout this text will use this variable as the outcome variable to be related to differences along the predictor variables described above. However, we will sometimes treat the other variables as dependent variables themselves when examining their interrelationships.