THE EFFECT OF LEADERSHIP STYLE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN POLICE FORCE:

Abstract

The study was based to examine the effects of leadership styles on public accountability for police force located in Arusha District, Tanzania. As the matter-of-fact Leadership style has been a subject of great concern in public accountability and is expected to determine the public accountability in the public or private sector. The objectives of the study were to assess the current leadership style on public accountability for the police force, to identify the indicators of public accountability for the police force and to examine the effect of various leadership style on public accountability for the police force located in Arusha District, The study adopted a case study of Police Force located in Arusha District whereby officers in various ranks working in Arusha District were interviewed. The research approach was quantitative in nature because the study objectively measured through statistical and numerical analysis through a questionnaire. Stratified sampling was used to select the number of 172 police officers from the population of 302 police officers in Arusha District and random sampling technique was applied to administer the questionnaire to police officers in each strata located in Arusha District. Primary data was collected from the field by questionnaires, focus group and observation while Secondary data was collected from libraries, articles, journals and Internet sources. Descriptive and inferential statistics data analysis methods was used to analyze the collected data whereby Inferential statistics was used assess the effects of various leadership styles on public accountability for the police force in Arusha District. Multiple regression analysis was employed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to establish the effects between leadership styles on public accountability for the police force in Arusha District. The study concluded that based on the results supported by empirical data, all leadership styles have the regression model applied in the study. Coefficient of determination (r2) in model summary describes 64.8% of the independent variables. Specifically, independent variables which are transformational, transactional, and interpersonal, autocratic, servant and democratic leadership explain only 64.8% affect public accountability for the police force at Arusha District in Tanzania. On other hand, this is due to the fact that coefficient of determination is very significant because only 35.7% of variations are brought about by the attributes not captured in the independent variables which is a a significant effect on the public accountability for the police force located in Arusha District. The police leadership should combine the different leadership styles depending on the situation so as to improve public accountability for the police force in Arusha District and other districts in Tanzania,