A Chi-Square Analysis of Leadership Tendencies Using Holland Codes

Abstract

Holland Codes are a tool developed by John Holland that reveal an individual’s inclination to pursue certain careers and activities, known as RIASEC Theory. One Holland Code, the Enterprising code, was used to measure students’ propensity towards pursuit of leadership roles at college based on their personalities. This research sought to examine John Holland’s third assumption of RIASEC theory, which is that individuals will seek work environments that match their top Holland Codes. The research question was whether presence of the Enterprising code of RIASEC theory would correlate to pursuit of leadership positions during college.  Undergraduate students (N=117) at a small evangelical Christian liberal arts college in the Midwest completed the Work Interest Assessment of the online Focus-2 Career Assessment test as well as a questionnaire revealing their self-reported interest in whether they would seek a leadership role while at their school. Chi-square analysis accepted the alternative hypothesis (H1) that leadership tendencies would be dependent upon Holland’s Enterprising code and rejected the null-hypothesis (H0) that leadership tendencies would be independent upon Holland’s Enterprising Code.

Keywords: Holland Codes, Enterprising code, leadership roles, college student