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Measuring the Leadership Effectiveness of Resident Assistants
Second, this study represents a contemporary exploration into developing an evaluation
instrument based on extensive literature review and statistical analysis. Statistically
speaking, these four subscales were successful at representing the effectiveness
of resident assistants. Content validity, construct validity, high internal reliability, and
high total variance all indicated that the instrument is a valid and reliable measure of
resident assistant leadership performance from the residents' perspective.
Implications for Current Practice
The four latent variables present in the revised version of the survey align closely with
practical aspects of the resident assistant role. Structural leadership is understood
as a resident assistant's ability to work with others as part of a larger organization to
achieve goals and distribute work in an efficient manner. Leaders are most effective
in this area when they work within the systems and structures around them and
communicate relevant policies and procedures to their residents, team members, and
supervisors (Birnbaum, 1988; Blimling, 2003; Bolman & Deal, 2021). Items in the
structural leadership component centered on administrative aspects of the job (e.g.,
My RA is consistent in enforcing rules).
Human resource leadership emphasizes the importance of individuals through
empowerment, support, and development of interpersonal relationships. Leaders are
most effective in this area when they offer individualized assistance to those they serve
by acting as informal counselors and friends (Birnbaum, 1988; Blimling, 2003; Bolman
& Deal, 2021). Items in the human resource leadership component focused on validation
and mattering (e.g., My RA expresses care for me).
In terms of symbolic leadership, resident assistants " are the face of housing and
residence life programs " (Blimling, 2015, p. 162). They set the individual traditions
and rituals of their floor and represent the department and university to their residents
on a personal level. The RA is an important symbolic presence that shapes meaning-making
for the students under their care. Resident assistants are also vital to the
representation of the institution to students. Symbolic leadership captures aspects of
role modeling and to what extent the RA helps residents feel connected to something
larger than themselves (e.g., My RA makes me feel like I belong at this institution).
Political leadership involves managing the demands of competing interests when
goals are unclear or immeasurable. Political leaders are most effective when they can
build trust, honor differences, help others achieve goals, and demonstrate vision and
enthusiasm for the hall. Resident assistants who exhibit political leadership must negotiate
a balance between individual interests (e.g., My RA helps me achieve my goals)
and communal interests (e.g., My RA communicates a vision for this hall community).
Recognizing that the intuition and expertise of full-time professional staff are invaluable
aspects of the evaluation process for resident assistants, this study provides a
statistically sound instrument that professional staff can use as an additional means of
evaluation to better understand the effectiveness of their staff. Housing and residence
life departments that seek to overhaul or improve their evaluation methods can use
50 The Journal of College and University Student Housing

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