Question at position 29 The Ohio State/Michigan studies and contingency theories offer us different lessons about the best and most effective ways to lead. Consider the following statements about these two sources of insight. Which of them is true:The Ohio State/Michigan studies and contingency theories offer us different lessons about the best and most effective ways to lead. Consider the following statements about these two sources of insight. Which of them is true:Contingency theories of leadership mainly focus on identifying one best way to manageThe Ohio State/Michigan Studies focus mainly on employee-centered leader behavior whereas contingency theories of leadership focus primarily on task-oriented behaviors. This is a trick question - none of the specific answers are true.This is a trick question - all of the specific answers are true.The Ohio State/Michigan Studies take into account situational characteristics in identifying effective leadership behaviors. Contingency theories do not.Clear my selection

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Question context: The item asks us to evaluate several statements about the Ohio State/Michigan studies and contingency theories, and to determine which statement is true. Here are the options analyzed one by one.
Option 1: 'Contingency theories of leadership mainly focus on identifying one best way to manage' This is misleading. Contingency theories argue that there is no single best way to lead; effectiveness depends on situational factors. The statement falsely asserts a universal best method, which contradicts core contingency theory ideas.
Option 2: 'The Ohio State/Michigan Studies focus mainly on employee-centered leader behavior whereas contingency theories of leadership focus primarily on task-oriented behaviors.' The Ohio State and Michigan studies are known for identifying two broad leadership behaviors: consideration (employee-centered, people-focused) and initiating structure (task-focused). However, contingency theories do not reduce leadership to solely task-oriented behaviors; they emphasize how leadership effectiveness depends on situational factors. While the Ohio State/Michigan findings include both dimensions, the second part incorrectly characterizes contingency theories as focusing mainly on task orientation, which is an oversimplification and thus inaccurate.
Option 3: 'This is a trick question - none of the specific answers are true.' This statement would be true if all the other options contain inaccuracies or misrepresentations about contingency theories and the Ohio State/Michigan studies. Given the common scholarly interpretations, some of the other options contain at least partial inaccuracies, suggesting this option is plausible as the true statement in this set.
Option 4: 'This is a trick question - all of the specific answers are true.' If any one of the other options is incorrect or mischaracterizes the theories, then this cannot be correct. Since option 1 is inaccurate about a single-best-way claim, this option cannot be true as it would require every statement to be correct, which is not the case.
Option 5: 'The Ohio State/Michigan Studies take into account situational characteristics in identifying effective leadership behaviors. Contingency theories do not.' This is not accurate. Contingency theories explicitly consider situational variables in prescribing when certain leadership behaviors are effective, whereas the Ohio State/Michigan studies identified basic behavioral dimensions without claiming a universal situational rule. The claim that contingency theories do not account for situational factors is incorrect.
Overall assessment: Most of the statements contain inaccuracies or misleading simplifications about the theories. Among them, option 3 correctly signals that the other statements are not true as stated, aligning with the idea that this is a trick question where none of the specific answers are entirely true.
Note on reasoning style: The question blends theory nuances, and recognizing the core ideas—no one-size-fits-all best leadership method, Ohio/Michigan focus on behavioral dimensions, and contingency theories emphasizing situational fit—helps in evaluating each option. The other choices either oversimplify or misattribute aspects to the theories, which is why they are considered incorrect.

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