The Development and Validation of a Transformational Leadership Survey for Substance Use Treatment Programs

Abstract

Directors in substance use treatment programs are increasingly required to respond to external economic and socio-political pressures. Leadership practices that promote innovation can help offset these challenges. Using focus groups, factor analysis, and validation instruments, the current study developed and established psychometrics for the Survey of Transformational Leadership. In 2008, clinical directors were evaluated on leadership practices by 214 counselors within 57 programs in four U.S. regions. Nine themes emerged: integrity, sensible risk, demonstrates innovation, encourages innovation, inspirational motivation, supports others, develops others, delegates tasks, and expects excellence. Study implications, limitations, and suggested future directions are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Le développement et la validation de la transformation du leadership des questionnaires pour les programmes de traitements de substances.

Les directeurs de substances utilisent des programmes de traitements qui sont de plus en plus requis de répondre aux pressions économiques et sociopolitiques. La pratique du leadership qui fait la promotion de l’innovation peut aider à compensé ces challenges. En utilisant ces groupes de concentrations, analyses de facteur, et validation des instruments, l’étude présente développe et établis la psychométrie pour le “Survey of Transformational Leadership.” En 2008, des directeurs de cliniques ont été évalués sur leurs pratiques de leadership par 214 conseillers dans plus de 57 programmes dans quatre régions des E.U. Neuf thèmes ont émergés: Intégrité, risque sensible, démonstration d’innovation, innovation encouragements, motivation inspirée, support des autres, développement des autres, repartissement des taches, attendre l’excellence. Les implications et limitations de l’étude, ont suggérés une direction future qui est discuté.

RESUMEN

El desarrollo y la validación de un estudio de la transformación de liderazgo para programas de tratamiento de uso de sustancias

A los directores de programas para el tratamiento en el uso de sustancias se les requiere cada vez más responder a presiones económicas y sociopolíticas externas. La práctica de liderazgo que promueve innovación puede ayudar a compensar estos retos. El estudio actual, mediante grupos de enfoque, factor de análisis e instrumentos de validación, desarrolló y estableció sicométricas para la encuesta “Survey of Transformational Leadership.” En 2008, se evaluaron directores clínicos sobre sus prácticas de liderazgo por 214 consejeros dentro de 57 programas en cuatro regiones de los EEUU. Nueve temas surgieron: integridad, riesgo razonable, demuestra innovación, fomenta innovación, motiva por medios de inspiración, le da sostén a otros, desarrolla a otros, delega tareas y tiene expectaciones de excelencia. Se discuten las implicaciones del estudio, las limitaciones y direcciones para el futuro.

Keywords :

• Substance use
• transformational leadership
• scale development
• scale validation
• outpatient treatment

THE AUTHORS

Jennifer R. Edwards, Ph.D., Associate Research Scientist joined the Institute of Behavioral Research in 2006. She assisted with data collection and field operations for a 5-year, multisite study of organizational costs and monitoring systems. Specific areas of interest include leadership, service delivery, and dynamics of organizational change within the substance abuse treatment field. Jenny's primary work to date is on the development and validation of the TCU Survey of Transformational Leadership (TCU STL) for application in treatment settings. Awards within the field include two NIAAA New Investigator Travel Awards.

Danica K. Knight, Ph.D., Research Scientist, has been at Texas Christian University since 1992. She served as Principal Investigator for CSAT and NIDA-funded studies of addicted women with dependent children, coauthored Partners in Parenting, directed a 5-year, multisite study of organizational costs and monitoring systems, and serves as reviewer for professional journals. Publications include articles on the importance of social factors for women in treatment and on organizational factors associated with service provision and turnover.

Kirk M. Broome, Ph.D., has spent over 15 years studying substance use and treatment with the Institute of Behavioral Research. His research has focused primarily on program differences in treatment structure and organization, and how they relate to client progress. His experience has helped with the design and analysis of treatment program evaluations, with special emphasis on structural equation modeling and hierarchical linear modeling. Kirk was the Statistician and Methodologist for a 5-year, multisite study of organizational costs and monitoring systems.

Patrick M. Flynn, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director of TCU's Institute of Behavioral Research has focused his research on co-occurring disorders, treatment costs, benefits, and technology transfer. He has been recognized by the American Psychological Association and American Educational Research Association through conferral of Fellow status, and serves as a frequent member of federal grant review panels and reviewer for professional journals. Early in his career, he worked in treatment programs in several capacities.