The SLQ was developed after a exhaustive survey of the literature surrounding each dimension. Definitions for each dimension were crafted and submitted to a Panel of five leadership experts for review and adjustments. Once definitions were agreed upon, the researchers wrote statements describing various leader actions within each of the four dimensions. The Panel was then asked to sort the statements into one of the four dimensions. The Panel then evaluated the statements for clarity, duplication and applicability. Four of five panel members had to be in agreement on placement and clarity of the item for it to be included in the first version of the instrument.
The statements were then subjected to two pilot tests. Between the two tests items were further culled and clarified in iterative stages until reliability was established. From the initial presentation of 189 items describing particular actions, the series of pilot tests produced the SLQv1 with a revised pool of 62 items used to assess leader activities. Based on empirical studies by Yasin (2006) and Urdegar (2008) and lengthy discussions and repeated feedback with respondents of SLQv1, 19 additional items were developed and submitted to the panel of experts to explore statistical identification of the four dimensions.
The SLQv3 currently is three pages long and consists of 77 items cast on a seven point Likert scale. The higher value represents greater use of the leader action as noted below:
1. Never
2. Almost Never
3. Rarely
4. Occasionally
5. Frequently
6. Almost Always
7. Always
The SLQ is available in self, other,and superior configurations. The self version asks the ratee how often they use the actions. The other version asks subordinates and peers how often they observe the ratee's use the actions. The supervisor version asks the ratee's supervisor how often they observe the leader's use of the actions. Hard copy and digital versions have been produced.
The SLQ takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete and is capable of being either self or electronically scored. Typically, participants return the instrument directly to the researchers or seminar facilitator. However, the instrument can be taken on line.