Analysis of Subordinates' Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Female Supervisors in the Air Force

摘要

This study addresses the possible impact of increasing numbers of female supervisors on military readiness. A literature review on female military and civilian supervisors found that few studies analyzed the actual performance of female supervisors and that many researchers no longer consider sex a primary indicator of managerial effectiveness. The two research questions posed addressing these issues were: does sex of the manager effect perceived performance, and do demographic characteristics of the female supervisor other than sex have an effect on perceived performance. The data base analyzed contained subordinate responses on the actual performances of their male and female supervisors. A two sample T-test found no significant difference between the perceived performance of male and female supervisors. A series of oneway analyses of variance found four factors--age, years in Air Force, officer rank, and career intentions--significantly effecting the perceived performance of female supervisors. A post factor analysis done on male supervisors found these four, and seven other factors not found for females, to be significant. This analysis also concluded that the supervisor's sex still plays at least a secondary role in perceived performnace and that subordinates still use stereotypes in evaluating their supervisors. (Author)