The effect of Hispanic ethnicity on leader behavior perceptions: A test of leadership categorization theory and relational demograph

The increase in economic activity between Latin America and the United States and the growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. create a need for a full understanding of how Hispanics are perceived as leaders and how this perception will likely affect their performance. The unique purpose of the present study is to empirically examine the relationship between Hispanic leader ethnicity and follower perceptions of leader behaviors.;The current research study is designed to contribute to the leadership literature by examining the effect of Hispanic ethnicity on leader behavior perceptions by Hispanic and Anglo followers. The study will provide an examination of the relationship between leadership prototype, leadership style, leader ethnicity, follower ethnicity, perceived effectiveness, and perceived satisfaction with supervision.;The hypotheses in the current study were tested with an experiment and a quasi-experiment. Subjects were randomly assigned to a Hispanic or Anglo leader condition. Subjects were either Hispanic or Anglo followers. The study was designed to test both leadership categorization theory and relational demography theory. Leadership categorization theory was tested by comparing the leadership style match (match between follower leadership prototype and leader's style) and mismatch conditions. Relational demography theory was tested by comparing the leader and follower ethnicity match and mismatch conditions. Five hundred ninety-five students were recruited from undergraduate management courses offered at New Mexico State University in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001.;The six hypotheses were tested with 6 planned contrasts. There were four factors (follower ethnicity, leader ethnicity; leadership prototype and leadership style) that, in combination, constitute the 6 planned contrasts. Of the hypotheses tested, only hypothesis 2b was supported. The mean perceived effectiveness ratings for leaders whose style matches their follower's leadership prototype were statistically higher than the mean perceived effectiveness ratings of leaders whose style did not match their follower's prototype. The results indicate that Hispanic leaders are largely perceived as equivalent to Anglo leaders.