Resonant Leadership Scale content validity evidence and internal structure among Brazilian nurses

Abstract Background Resonant leadership has been studied in nursing but not in Brazil due to the unavailability of the Resonant Leadership Scale in this country. This study analyzed validity evidence based on the Resonant Leadership Scale content and internal structure among Brazilian nurses. Method This is a validity study carried out in two phases. The first dealt with content validity evidence, consisting of translation into Brazilian Portuguese by two translators, synthesis of translations by a committee of judges, with five nurses experienced in the topic of leadership and in the adaptation of instruments, back-translation from Portuguese to English by two other different translators, consensus of back-translations, analysis of the final version in Portuguese by a second committee of judges with seven self-declared English-speaking nurses and experts in leadership with consensus obtained by the content validity index > 80% and pre-test with a sample of 20 nurses. The second phase analyzed internal structure validity evidence with 287 nurses from two hospitals located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from March to December 2021. Data were assessed through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The instrument dimensionality testing was performed with Robust Parallel Analysis (RPA) through Optimal Implementation of Parallel Analysis (PA) with minimum rank factor analysis. Factors were extracted using the Robust Unweighted Least Squares (RULS) technique. Dimensionality was tested with Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Hull as the model fit index, using the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). Factor extraction was performed using the RULS technique. Instrument reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Results In the first phase, the main changes made occurred in five statements that included more appropriate Brazilian Portuguese terms for semantic and idiomatic equivalences. During pre-test, there was no need for adjustments. In the second phase, factor loadings are adequate both for the leadership self-assessment questionnaire (λ = 0.37 to 0.82) and for the observed leadership assessment questionnaire (λ = 0.75 to 0.90). Conclusions The Brazilian Portuguese version of the Resonant Leadership Scale showed content validity evidence and adequate internal-structure evidence in a sample of nurses from two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil.