Exploring leadership efficacy and locus of control of sport management undergraduate students: A qualitative case study

Abstract

Leadership efficacy is “a specific form of efficacy associated with the level of confidence in the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with leading others” (p. 669). Researchers suggest that a student’s level of leadership efficacy (LE) may impact one’s decision-making, willingness to undertake leadership roles, and one’s subsequent affinity to seek out and obtain a managerial/leadership position upon graduation. One’s lower levels of LE may result in prematurely eliminating certain career options and/or developing self-limiting behaviours— and for female students in particular. Drawing on Bandura’s (1977) sources of efficacy information and Rotter’s (1966) Internal-External scale, the two purposes of this study were first, to explore sport management undergraduate students’ perceived leadership efficacy (LE) and locus of control (LOC); and second, to explore the relationship between these students’ LE and LOC. An instrumental case study research design was employed where the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with sport management students. By exploring the perceived LE and LOC of these students, insight was gleaned into how students manifest such beliefs and how they may impact students’ academic journey and subsequent entrance into the competitive sport industry.