Asking chatgpt to derive a research proposal based on an academic article: October 1b. [Leadership and Change Management-related]

Asking chatgpt to derive a research proposal based on an academic article: October 1b. [Leadership and Change Management-related]

The following is a record of my request to chatgpt (accessed via poe.com) to derive a research proposal based on an academic article: an example. The name of the article is: "Effect of crises on charisma signaling: A regression discontinuity design".

My question 1 is: "Please provide a simple summary of the attached article."

The reply from chatgpt is: "The article "Effect of crises on charisma signaling: A regression discontinuity design" by Nicolas Bastardoz, Philippe Jacquart, and John Antonakis examines how crises influence the charismatic rhetoric and approval ratings of political leaders. It challenges existing research, which often suffers from endogeneity bias and inadequate causal modeling, by employing regression discontinuity designs (RDD) to establish causal relationships.

The authors argue that crises, characterized by uncertainty and distress, provide fertile ground for charismatic leadership to emerge. They explore how leader behavior changes during crises, shifting rhetoric to include more charismatic themes. By reanalyzing past events, such as President George W. Bush's response to 9/11 and President François Hollande's reactions to terrorist attacks in France, the study finds that leaders increase their use of charismatic rhetoric during crises, leading to higher approval ratings.

The article identifies two pathways for the emergence of charismatic leaders during crises. First, crises enhance followers' attribution of charisma to leaders due to a heightened need for guidance and reassurance. Second, leaders can more effectively communicate value-laden visions that resonate with followers' identities, allowing for the use of emotionally charged rhetoric.

The study also employs a unique "regression discontinuity in time" (RDiT) approach, focusing on time as a selection mechanism, which allows for a more precise estimation of the causal effects of crises. This method contrasts with traditional methods that often fail to account for the natural assignment of crises as treatment events.

Overall, the article contributes to leadership literature by emphasizing the behavioral changes of leaders in response to crises, showing that such changes are not merely perceptions but are rooted in actual shifts in communication strategies. Additionally, it advocates for the use of RDD as a robust methodological tool in leadership research, illustrating how qualitative data can be quantitatively analyzed to derive meaningful insights.

In conclusion, the research highlights the significant impact of crises on charismatic leadership dynamics, suggesting that both the rhetoric used by leaders and their subsequent approval ratings are markedly affected during such tumultuous periods. This work urges further exploration of these phenomena to better understand leadership effectiveness in crisis situations."

My question 2 is: "Please derive a research proposal from the attached article, indicating the proposal title, the research background, its research objectives and a few related research questions, an overall research methodology, some concepts and theories to use from the preliminary literature review. Lastly, briefly indicate the academic and practical value of the proposal. Tks."

The reply from chatgpt is : "Research Proposal

Title

"Charisma in Crisis: Analyzing Leadership Communication During National Emergencies"

Research Background

The emergence of charismatic leaders during crises has been a subject of interest in leadership studies. Previous research indicates that crises create an environment conducive to charismatic signaling, where leaders can enhance their appeal and approval ratings. However, much of this research has been descriptive and methodologically flawed, often relying on inappropriate causal models. This proposal aims to build on the findings of Bastardoz et al. (2024), employing advanced quasi-experimental designs to explore how crises influence leader rhetoric and follower perceptions.

Research Objectives

To investigate the impact of crisis events on the charismatic communication strategies employed by political leaders.

To analyze how these communication strategies affect public approval ratings during and after crises.

To differentiate between follower-attributed charisma and leader-driven charisma signaling.

Research Questions

How do political leaders adjust their communication styles during crises?

What specific charismatic themes are more prevalent in leader rhetoric during crises?

How do changes in charismatic rhetoric correlate with fluctuations in public approval ratings?

What role does the context of the crisis play in shaping leader communication and follower perceptions?

Overall Research Methodology

This study will employ a regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) design to analyze the impact of specific crises on leader communication. Data will be collected from speeches delivered by political leaders before, during, and after notable crises, which will be subjected to content analysis to identify charismatic themes and communication strategies. Public approval ratings will be sourced from polls conducted around the same timeframes. Statistical methods will be used to assess the causal relationships between crisis events, charismatic rhetoric, and approval ratings.

Concepts and Theories

Charisma Signaling Theory: Understanding charisma as a leader's communication strategy rather than a mere follower attribution.

Crisis Communication Theory: Examining how leaders communicate during crises to manage public perception and expectations.

Regression Discontinuity Design: A quasi-experimental method for establishing causal inferences in non-randomized settings.

Academic and Practical Value

This research will contribute to the academic literature on leadership by providing empirical evidence on the dynamics of charismatic signaling in crisis contexts. Practically, the findings could inform current leaders and policymakers about effective communication strategies during emergencies, enhancing their ability to foster public trust and cohesion. By refining our understanding of leadership in crises, this proposal aims to bridge theoretical insights with actionable strategies for real-world application."

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.