Which story to tell: applying age, period, and cohort approaches to leadership assessment

Purpose We highlight three approaches for structuring data analysis to aid leadership educators and researchers in investigating differences between populations, considering the variable of age. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing real data, we exemplify the three approaches to illustrate how insights might be gained. Findings We offer illustrative empirical findings in this reflective essay to demonstrate the three approaches. Our empirical examples are real, but not designed to be the purpose of this essay. Research limitations/implications We provide three methodological approaches to analyzing leadership data that can assist leadership educators and researchers in determining an appropriate method for meaning-making with their data. Originality/value We seek to describe three different approaches to data analysis that are likely accessible and convenient as well as could lead to insight for leadership educators and researchers.