Implicit Leadership Prototypes in Türkiye: A Turkish Adaptation and Validation of the Offermann and Coats Implicit Leadership Theory Scale

Abstract

Implicit leadership theories (ILTs) are cognitive schemas that shape how followers perceive and evaluate leaders. Most existing ILT measurement evidence comes from English-language samples in Western contexts, which limits cross-cultural comparison and the cumulative development of the construct. The present research adapted the Offermann and Coats (2018) ILT scale into Turkish across two studies. In Study 1 (N = 502 employed adults), exploratory factor analysis yielded a 35- item, seven-factor structure (sensitivity, dedication, strength, intelligence, well-groomed, masculinity, tyranny), with evidence of configural and metric invariance across gender and age, and partial structural invariance across organizational tenure. In Study 2 (N = 436 university students), the seven-factor structure was supported by confirmatory factor analysis and showed theoretically meaningful associations with personality (agreeableness, conscientiousness) and self-construal (independent, interdependent). Findings provide initial reliability and validity evidence for the Turkish ILTscale and suggest partial structural continuity with the original scale alongside differences in factor and item compositions. To our knowledge, this study represents the first Turkish adaptation and validation of the Offermann and Coats (2018) Implicit Leadership Theory scale, providing initial evidence for its reliability and validity in Turkish ILT research. It can further be utilized in cross-cultural research to evaluate the scale's invariance across diverse cultures.