Leadership and Job Satisfaction: Addressing Endogeneity with Panel Data from a Field Experiment

An, Seung-Ho, Kenneth J. Meier, Jacob Ladenburg, and Niels Westergård-Nielsen. 2019. "Leadership and Job Satisfaction: Addressing Endogeneity with Panel Data from a Field Experiment." Review of Public Personnel Administration 40 (4): 589-612

41 Pages Posted: 7 May 2019 Last revised: 5 Apr 2021

See all articles by Seung-Ho An

Seung-Ho An

University of Arizona - School of Government and Public Policy

Kenneth J. Meier

American University; Cardiff University; Leiden University - Institute of Public Administration

Jacob Ladenburg

The Rockwool Foundation Research Unit

Niels Westergård-Nielsen

Copenhagen Business School - Department of International Economics and Management

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

The interaction between leaders and employees plays a key role in determining organizational outcomes and performance. Although human resources management literature posits positive effects of leadership behaviors on employee job satisfaction, the causal path between the two is unclear due to potential endogeneity issues inherent in this relationship. To address the issue, we first provide theoretical explanations about why and how transformational and transactional leadership behaviors would enhance employee job satisfaction. Second, we test the relationship between leadership behaviors and employee job satisfaction using panel data from a year-long randomized field experiment that engaged leaders and employees from hundreds of public and private organizations in Denmark. Primary findings suggest that although leadership training does not have direct effects on changes in employee job satisfaction, leadership-training induced changes in leadership behaviors (transformational leadership and verbal rewards) are positively related to changes in job satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

An, Seung-Ho and Meier, Kenneth J. and Ladenburg, Jacob and Westergård-Nielsen, Niels, Leadership and Job Satisfaction: Addressing Endogeneity with Panel Data from a Field Experiment (2020). An, Seung-Ho, Kenneth J. Meier, Jacob Ladenburg, and Niels Westergård-Nielsen. 2019. "Leadership and Job Satisfaction: Addressing Endogeneity with Panel Data from a Field Experiment." Review of Public Personnel Administration 40 (4): 589-612, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3346117

Seung-Ho An (Contact Author)

University of Arizona - School of Government and Public Policy

315 Social Science Building
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States

Kenneth J. Meier

American University ( email )

4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20016
United States

Cardiff University ( email )

Aberconway Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff, Wales CF10 3EU
United Kingdom

Leiden University - Institute of Public Administration ( email )

P.O. Box 13228
Den Haag, 2501 EE
Netherlands

Jacob Ladenburg

The Rockwool Foundation Research Unit ( email )

Niels Westergård-Nielsen

Copenhagen Business School - Department of International Economics and Management ( email )

Porcelænshaven 24A, 3rd floor
Copenhagen
Denmark

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