Validation of a German version of the "Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire" (MLQ Form 5 x Short) by Bass and Avolio (1995)

Increasing organizational change and new demands in the field of leadership have evoked a growing interest in the concepts of charismatic and transformational leadership. Probably the most frequently used questionnaire to measure transformational leadership is the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). In this article the validation of an adapted and modified German version of the current MLQ 5 x Short (Bass & Avolio, 1995) is presented. Psychometric properties are tested and questions concerning the validity of the instrument are discussed. Results are based on a number of different samples with more than 3 500 participants. While the postulated dimensionality is only partly supported, there is evidence for good validity with regard to external criteria. Furthermore, differences between German and American findings are discussed. Finally, recommendations for further developments and improvements of the instrument are provided.