Variations in Leader Behavior as a Function of Task Type.

This paper provides information concerning the flexibility of leader behavior. Subjects were 48 black and 48 white undergraduate students. Twelve black and 12 white older students were selected as leaders while the remaining subjects were assigned randomly as members of 12 black, 12 white, and 12 mixed dyads. Results indicate that leader behavior as measured by Bales Interaction Process Analysis changed as the group performed different tasks. There were no behavior differences as a function of leader's race although an interaction was found in the directive categories between task and dyad composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]