Üsküdar University developed the Democratic Leadership Scale (DLS). Within this scope, a study was conducted with 1010 participants across Turkey. The results revealed differences between generations.
Üsküdar University, under the leadership of Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, developed the Democratic Leadership Scale. Within the scope of the scale, a study was conducted with 1010 participants across Turkey, under the direction of Dr. Lecturer Aylin Tutgun Ünal from the New Media and Journalism Department.
With the study, preliminary results were obtained by applying the Democratic Leadership Scale (DLS) to 1010 people, consisting of 50.5% female and 48.8% male participants.
The average age of participants in the study, which included individuals from 18 to 80 years old, was 35.6. The lowest possible score on the 25-question DLS was determined to be 25, and the highest score 125.
The average score obtained from the 1010 participants answering the survey was 100.31. Accordingly, based on the score ranges obtained, it was concluded that the participants adopted a leader with 'Democratic Personality' characteristics.
Men's expectations for democratic and just leaders are higher
The difference between men and women was also found to be statistically significant. Men's expectations for democratic and just leaders were found to be higher than women's. While women scored 98, men scored 102.7.
Generation gap emerged
Stating that the participants in the study were divided according to their generations, Dr. Lecturer Aylin Tutgun Ünal said:
“234 individuals from Generation X, 296 from Generation Y, and 413 from Generation Z participated in the research.
According to Tarhan's classification, participants up to 29 years old were grouped as Generation Z, those between 30-45 years old as Generation Y, and those over 45 years old as Generation X. Accordingly, generations born in certain time frames in terms of communication technologies are expressed with certain designations; Generation X as 'Radio Generation', Generation Y as 'Television Generation', and Generation Z as 'Social Media Generation'
Differences emerged between generations
According to the results of the Democratic Leadership Scale (DLS), Generation Z differentiated from Generations X and Y by scoring the lowest. Generation Z scored 94.5 points, Generation Y 105 points, and Generation X 104.5 points on the scale. No statistically significant difference was found between Generations X and Y. It was concluded that Generation Z significantly differed from both Generation X and Generation Y. As the score on the scale increased, a just personality was added alongside the democratic personality.”
A four-dimensional Democratic Leadership Scale emerged
Dr. Lecturer Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that validity and reliability studies were conducted with the data obtained from the application of the survey, noting that a four-dimensional, 25-item valid and reliable 'Democratic Leadership Scale' emerged.
Dr. Lecturer Aylin Tutgun Ünal said:
“The Democratic Leadership Scale (DLS), which was found to have a four-dimensional structure in validity and reliability studies, can be used to make measurements in terms of 'Justice Orientation', 'Accountability', 'Liberalism/Pluralism', and 'Participativeness'. The first 5 items of the scale measure the Justice Orientation dimension, items 6-9 measure the Accountability dimension, items 10-20 measure the Liberalism/Pluralism dimension, and items 21-25, excluding item 23, measure the Participativeness dimension. Item 23 was found to have high standalone measurement power and can be used by placing it anywhere desired on the scale. It is phrased with an inverse meaning, especially to measure attention, and is reverse-scored when calculating points.”
Democratic Leadership Scale
Participants indicate their frequency of agreement with statements regarding democratic and autocratic leaders on the scale, rated as 'Strongly Disagree', 'Slightly Disagree', 'Moderately Agree', 'Strongly Agree', and 'Completely Agree' (Strongly Disagree: 1 point, Completely Agree: 5 Points). After summing the points given to the 25 items, the total score is evaluated according to the appropriate range. Item 23 needs to be reverse-scored.
The statements included in the scale are as follows:
1. Democrat leader acts consultatively and uses their power of persuasion. Autocratic leader is dictatorial and likes to use hard power.
2. Democrat leader is determined, persistent, stands behind what they believe, is justice-oriented, and corrects their mistakes if any. Autocratic leader is authoritarian, stubborn, does not back down, goes all the way even if wrong, prioritizes loyalty and power over organizational justice.
3. Democrat leader is open, tries to persuade, if not persuaded, simply takes a stand, is not a bully. Autocratic leader has a hidden agenda, is a bully if they cannot persuade, applies pressure, is ruthless.
4. Democrat leader is oriented towards respect for justice and rules, changes hindering rules with ethical sensitivity. Autocratic leader is prone to arbitrariness, power-oriented, easily violates rules.
5. Democrat leader likes to consult, assists others in scoring goals in football. Autocratic leader is commanding, likes to give orders, wants to have the ball and score the goal themselves.
6. Democrat leader is open to criticism, ready to be accountable. Autocratic leader promotes monophony, never wants to be accountable.
7. Democrat leader is open and transparent, a team leader. Autocratic leader does not talk much, is a lone wolf.
8. Democrat leader is open to criticism, is not bothered by being accountable. Autocratic leader is closed to criticism, avoids accountability.
9. Democrat leader dislikes those who say yes to everything and praise them, their favorite saying is 'let me research'. Autocratic leader paves the way for those who praise them, their favorite saying is 'yes, sir'.
10. Democrat leader glorifies their cause, not their person. Autocratic leader identifies their cause with their person.
11. Democrat leader takes calculated risks when necessary. Autocratic leader takes disproportionate risks.
12. Democrat leader is like an orchestra conductor, advocates ideological pluralism. Autocratic leader demands monophony, is totalitarian, imposes their own ideology.
13. Democrat leader does not confuse friends with enemies. Autocratic leader sees every critic as an enemy.
14. Democrat leader differentiates between those seeking solutions and those seeking personal gain, does not favor those approaching for self-interest. For an autocratic leader, the only measure is their support.
15. Democrat leader makes decisions principle-oriented, not outcome and target-oriented, in the use of resources like money. Autocratic leader's only principle is success, disregards fair resource use.
16. Democrat leader accepts defeat, apologizes if necessary. Autocratic leader tries to forcefully change rules in case of defeat, or flees, or falls into depression.
17. Democrat leader does not act differently at home, their micro-power domain, and at their institution, their macro-power domain. Autocratic leader changes their authoritarian appearance according to their interest.
18. Democrat leader uses praise and reward more. Autocratic leader uses punishment, pressure, coercion, and threats more.
19. Democrat leader thinks long-term and strategically. Autocratic leader is hasty, impatient, thinks more short-term and operationally.
20. Democrat leader uses positive emotions like sacrifice, love, and giving trust to motivate people. Autocratic leader uses negative emotions like bombast, bullying, intimidation, and suppression.
21. Democrat leader keeps those who speak the truth, even if they don't like it, and is focused on corporate benefit. Autocratic leader progresses with praisers and approvers, makes decisions focused on individual benefit.
22. Democrat leader protects competent, meritorious, and honorable people, even if they speak harshly. Autocratic leader dislikes criticism and does not listen.
23. Democrat leader is prone to accumulate power in their person. Autocratic leader exhibits behavior and attitude consistent with power being in laws and rules, not in individuals.
24. Democrat leader values distributing power and authority to their teammates and colleagues, not keeping it to themselves. Autocratic leader highly values keeping control to themselves.
25. Democrat leader can make sacrifices for their own interests in a crisis and relinquish for the benefit of the institution. Autocratic leader prioritizes their own interests, not the institution's, during a crisis.
Note: Item 23 must be reverse-scored.
Evaluation:
25-40 points: highly autocratic and dictatorial personality.
41-60 points: partially autocratic personality.
61-80: risky group, can be diagnosed as autocratic at any moment.
81-105: quite democratic personality.
106-125: definitely democratic and just personality.