Factors Effecting Undergraduate Leadership Behaviors

Leadership behaviors of undergraduates (n = 1,103) were examined using the Student Leadership Practice Inventory (SLPI). The practice of leadership behaviors increased significantly from freshman to juniors and from juniors to seniors. However, each class was significantly less likely to practice the Challenge the Process behavior and significantly more likely to practice the Enable Others to Act behavior. Experience with different types of leadership roles were related to higher SLPI practice scores. Age, race, transfer status and taking a freshman experience seminar did not influence SLPI scores or the number of different types of leadership roles. Unexpectedly, women had significantly higher SLPI scores than men at each class level.