Title

The Effect of a Leadership Training Program on Consideration of Future Consequences

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology and Special Education

Date of Award

Fall 2015

Abstract

Research has shown that employers spend billions of dollars every year on leadership training programs and that effective leadership is focused on the long-term goals of an organization or a vision. The existing literature has shown that training accounts for an increase in leadership behaviors and economic gains; however, research has not explored whether or not the training assists leaders in becoming focused on the vision. I investigated the effect of a leadership training program on individuals’ consideration of immediate and future consequences. Undergraduate students participating for course credit in a leadership class were randomly assigned to participate in a 7-week leadership training program or no program. The Consideration of Future Consequences (CFC) scale was administered as a pre-test to all participants. Participants in the leadership training program completed the normally assigned activities for the class and also worked towards induction into The National Society of Leadership and Success, which involved an orientation, a 3-hour leadership training session, participation in three success networking team sessions, and three speaker events. Participants in the control condition completed the normally assigned activities for the class. Midway through the semester participants completed the measure of consideration of future consequences as a post-test. I predicted participation in a leadership training program would significantly increase concern for future consequences and found that concern for future consequences increased significantly for participants who completed a leadership training program but did not significantly change for participants in the control condition.

Advisor

Stephen Reysen

Subject Categories

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

COinS