Nursing Leadership Style and Psychosocial Work Environment - Research Paper Example

Nursing Leadership Style and Psychosocial Work Environment of Nursing Leadership Style and Psychosocial Work Environment Introduction In the articles “Nursing Leadership Style and Psychosocial Work Environment” by Terry Malloy and Barbara Penprase, featured in the Journal of Nursing Management issue 18, the authors attempt to address nursing issues. In the article, the authors mainly analyzed registered nurses issues. Such issues relate to leadership and the psychosocial nursing environment. Critique of the Article: Substantive Aspect The problem that the study aimed to address was the relationship between leadership style and psychosocial work environment of registered nurses. The authors defined the problem adequately within the parameters of their study. They had indicated that the in terms of leadership, they study sought to find out the extent to which transformational leadership and job satisfaction have a positive relationship. Besides, they sought to find out exactly how leadership style and psychological work environment since there are few studies that lend support to any positive relationship between the two. In order to conduct the study successfully, the purpose of the study was clearly stated in the declarative statement in the aims. For example, the study indicated that the purpose of the study was to obtain a leadership and work environment information for a particular group of leaders. It was also indicated as part of the purpose of the study that the information obtained was to be used by the department that set out to do research to develop a plan for leadership. After elaboration on the purpose of the study, the research had elaborated on the hypotheses to be tested. The study had adopted a non-directional hypothesis in which, for instance, they had stated that there is a significant relationship between transformational leadership components and psychosocial work environment. There were four hypotheses that the study sought to find out. In all the four, the authors had used adopted non-directional hypotheses. The study used a number of independent and dependent variables. The independent variables used in the study were leadership styles. Under leadership component analyzed included leadership style behavior of transformational leadership such as building trust, demonstrating integrity, inspiring others, encouraging others, and coaching. On the other hand, transactional leadership components that the study analyzed included rewarding achievements and monitoring mistakes. The last leadership style that the study analyzed as an independent variable was passive avoidance leadership. The independent variables that were used in the study included psychosocial work environment outcomes such as commitment to job, job insecurity, family work conflict, role conflict, and role clarity amongst others. The significance of the study to nursing is as follows. First, the research indicates how leadership styles affect the output at work. For instance, the study identifies how various possible outcomes are likely to turn out depending on what leadership styles one employs in a working environment. Identifying the strong points and the weak points of various leadership styles employed by, the people involved in the management of nursing affairs are better placed to train leaders along an established direction that would best deliver results and keep the nurses contented. It appears that the paradigm which the authors used in approaching the study was positivism. The authors were concerned with exploring a social reality which in this case was how leadership styles do impact on the psychosocial working environment of registered nurses. The paradigm adopted was to assist in finding out the research problems and by using questionnaires which targeted the actual registered nurses already in the field, one may observed that the method okay. This is because the method allowed the nurses to make their entries based on their observation of their working environment and experience. Therefore, there was a good match between the paradigm and the research problem. Theoretical Aspect One may also note that the authors mention the theoretical framework that they used in the study. In this study, Malloy and Penprase had used a model used by Bruce Avolo and Bernard Bass in 1990. In this theoretical framework, Avolo and Bass had used a continuum of leadership style. Malloy and Penprase adopted this theoretical framework to analyze the components of transformational leadership, transactional leadership and passive avoidance leadership. One may note that with the objectives of the research, the theoretical framework lent guided the study and therefore did not diminish the value of the study. Ethical Aspect Given that the study was conducted by the Qualitative Assurance Department of the government agency, it assumed that permission was sought formerly along the government bureaucracy since there is no mentioning of such. The consent of the 122 nurses interviewed through questionnaires was consulted for consent prior to the study. This was consistent with ethical practices in research. During the study, the researcher also took measures to protect the participants from any possible harm, discomfort and psychological stress. One may observe that the 122 nurses who participated in the research did that out of their own volition. Besides, the participants were instructed to return the consent forms and questionnaires in separate forms for purposes of anonymity. No form of coercion whatsoever was used in the study. Consent procedures that were used sought through letters addressed to the nurses. Those who consented were required to sign the consent form and return it through different envelopes other than the ones used. There is no doubt that the researchers took necessary steps to safeguard the privacy of their participant since anonymity was emphasized from the start to the end. One can therefore, say that the researchers observed all ethical issues involved. Review of Literature On the literature review, one may notice that the authors used several literature reviews. The literature reviews used in the study correspond to the topic under study significantly well. For example, among the literature reviews used in the study, the authors focus on the work of Al-Mailam, a study conducted in the year 2004. In this study, Al-Mailam has sought to study Transactional versus transformational style of leadership-employee perception of leadership efficacy in public and private hospitals in Kuwait. This is in line with the independent variables that were majorly leadership styles. Another study that the authors had analyzed in the literature review was study conducted by Chen, Beck and Amos in the year 2005. In this study, the researchers had sought to find out more about leadership styles and nursing faculty job satisfaction in Taiwan. One may conclude from the above observation that literature review that Malloy and Penprase used was very relevant. Another strength that one may also observe is the fact that Malloy and Penprase also used studies that supported their claims as well as those that oppose. For example, a study by Spinelly (2006) found that transactional leadership style components of management by exception-active negatively correlates with the leader effectiveness, and satisfaction with the leader. On the other hand, a study by Judge and Piccolo (2004) had suggested in their findings that there was a positive correlation between transactional leadership style with leader effectiveness and satisfaction with the leader. It is also easy to notice that the literature review is logically organized. For instance, the literature review assesses various studies that focused on specific leadership style one after another. To be more specific, the literature review first focuses on transformational leadership, then proceeds to transactional leadership and eventually assesses literature on passive avoidant leadership components. The authors used current citations as much as possible. Except for the theoretical framework quoted from the last 20 years, the sources used were current studies that range in the past ten years. One may note that the study attempts to keep make sure that all the resources used are as relevant as possible through such mechanisms. Besides, most of the articles that are used in the study are primary sources. Malloy and Penprase focused on using many sources that were actual primary studies in which the researchers had focused on an actual problem. The problem was studies within its immediate environment and results computed in form of findings. Using such sources lend strength to the literature review in terms of reliability and acceptability. In addition, using primary resources also corresponds with the paradigm that was used in the study. Even so, there is no brief summary provided at the end of the literature review. At the end of the literature review, Malloy and Penprase moves straight away into the hypotheses tested. Lack of a summary of literature review may not be taken to be a weakness in the research considering that the literature review itself was quite logically arranged. Methodological Aspect In terms of research design, the authors identified that they used questionnaires majorly. The Quality Assurance Department of an unnamed government agency had sent questionnaires to a selected number of RNs. The RNs were those who were working for the department. Those who participated in the survey did so voluntarily. Up to 122 questionnaires were successfully filled and returned. The research design aligns with the variables and the purpose of the study. For example, one may notice that the measurement used was a multiple leadership questionnaire. The questionnaire had up to 12 leadership subscales as well 5 transformational components, 2 transactional components and another two passive avoidant leadership component. These were used in conjunction with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Work Environment Questionnaire. The last questionnaire was aimed at being used to measure psychosocial work environment. Concerning the steps that the authors took in setting up and implementing the study, one may observe that the authors did not give a comprehensive report on how they went about that process. Even so, they do mention that they had had sent a total of 400 questionnaires and received back 122. The authors also mentioned that they had instructed the participants to return the consent form and the questionnaires in separate forms to maintain anonymity. Other than that, the authors have not included any additional information on the steps they tool in setting up and implementing the study. The target population that Malloy and Penprase targeted for the study has been clearly described. In this study, Malloy and Penprase targeted to conduct an analysis from registered nurses and supervisory nurses. Amongst this population, most of the respondents were female and the mean age stood at 48 years. In the targeted population that was studied, Malloy and Penprase had worked with RNs and supervisory nurses of between the ages 25 to 64 years. One may also note that the sampling procedure that Malloy and Penprase used was compatible with the research design. This is especially so given that the sample focused in those in positions of leadership in the nursing career as well as RNs who are likely to experience the real problems. Even so, one may observe that the number of participants in the study was seemingly inadequate. Malloy and Penprase have initially targeted a total of 400 participants for the study. However, the response was undeniably too small with only 122 participants volunteering for the study. This was approximately 30.5%. One may notice that if the study had had a response of up to 50% at least, the higher number of participants would have improved the reliability of the study. Based on the sampling procedure that was used in the study, the concern on the generalizability of the findings could be that there was no distribution in of the outcomes since the study was done in one unit are results proposed for a universal application. It would have been better had the study analyzed more than one health unit. The author did not raise these concerns. As pertains to data collection, the steps in data collection were described clearly and concisely. Malloy and Penprase adopted a simple method in which after structuring questions in a questionnaire appropriately, the RNs and their supervisors simply answered the question as they had deemed best fitted in their understanding of their working environment. The data collection technique that was used in the study was interview in the form of a questionnaire. The fact that the study was conducted through quantitative method made the data collection technique was appropriate. It was also consistent with the research objectives and research design. The authors also discussed means of validating reliability and validity of the data. As Malloy and Penprase observed, it emerged that the low response was a limitation to the study. Even so, they authors were still able to make conclusions. Concerning the length of the research, the authors indicate that the study was conducted starting the May 2009. However, they fail to indicate when the study was concluded. It may be assumed that the research went on well in terms of time. This is because time has not been mentioned in the limitations of the research. Interpretive Aspect Malloy and Penprase had approached data analysis using statistical data analysis tools such as SPSS. They also used Pearson’s r correlation coefficient to conduct all analyses that required quantification. The researchers had also used statistical ANOVA post hoc Tukey especially to identify differences between groups. The differences were analyzed based on scores registered on transformational leadership and dimension of the psycho-social environment. The authors have also used descriptive statistics to analyze other variables that could not be analyzed using statistical tools. One may notice that these range of analytical methods employed rendered data analysis reliable (Fain, 2004). The approach used in the data analysis was consistent with the research design and methodology. This is because after completion and submission of the questionnaires, Malloy and Penprase had to compile the various responses by grouping some and feeding others in the identified statistical software programs. Eventually when the findings came out, one may observe that they indeed did address the research hypotheses. For instance, findings indicated that hypothesis number 4 which stated that “There is a significant difference in the reported psychosocial work environment dimensions between groups of registered nurses who are divided into groups based on the measure of transformational leadership style components of their immediate supervisor,” was partially accepted. Even so, the study did not review the research in relation to previous researches that were highlighted in the literature review. After the data analysis, the authors did discuss the limitation of eh research. They recognized that a smaller number of only 122 had participated out of the initial target of 400 people who were contacted. The small number of participants particularly affected the reliability of the study. Based on the outcomes of the study, the authors made recommendations at the end of the study. For example, they recommended that there is a need to develop a hiring model that focuses on the recruiting leaders who display transformational leadership skills. In terms of organization, one may observe that the report was well organized. It moved fairly well as any other research paper would. Each section of the research was well articulated. In fact, going by the issues discussed, the report was written in such a way that any averagely competent practicing nurse could understand the study. As a consumer of nursing research, I have confidence in the truth and value of the research. Probably the only thing that the authors should consider next time is to try to have a large sample so that reliability may be improved. Fain, J. (2004). Reading, understanding, and applying nursing research (2nd Ed). Philadelphia, F. A.: Davis Company. Read More