BU288 Research in OB Flashcards
What are the moderating and mediating variables? Define them
moderating variable - affects the nature of the relationship depending on the level of moderating variable
pay bonus — (pay satisfaction) –> attendence
mediating variable - intervenes or explains the relationship.
How to measure variables? (2)
reliability - how consistent are the responses
validity - how it truly refelcts what it is supposed to measure
What is the term for when there is a strong relationship between the differrent measures of the samr variable?
Convergent validity
(test measures self-esteem vs. test measures self confidence)
What is the term for when there is a weak relationship between measures of different variables?
Discriminant validity
(test measures security vs. test measures loneliness)
What are the three basic kind of research techniques
Observation, correlation, and experimentation
Explain observational reseach
reseachers examine the natural activities of people - by listening and watching
How is formal observations different from everyday observations?
Researchers have more training in OB so they see more observations
there is a systematic framework to observation
they keep an ongoing record
well informed for the dangers of influencing the behaviours of ppl under observation
What is participant observation? What is it good for?
Researcher becomes a member of the organization that they are studying. It is good for observing information that will be hard to obtain unless you are part of it (“illegal activities”)
What is direct observation?
Researchers observe OB without participanting.
What are some cons of particpant observation?
Introducing a new person into the work setting will severely disrupt and change the nature of activities in that workplace
Reseacher cannot acquring skills of a pilot or surgeon to investigate what happens in their field.
It place severe limitations on the researcher’s opportunities to record information.
What are some cons of direct observation?
lack of control over the environment
string potenetial for selective perceptions and interpretation of observed events
What is correlational research?
measure variable precisely and examine relationships without introducing change into the research setting.
Using existing data, surveys and interviews
What is observation good for?
Best to make initial examination of some organizational event with little information
to generate ideas for further investigation with more refined techniques.
What is correlational Research?
so doing research do the two factors that you think is gonna correlate. And then plot it to showcase the relation. But the problem is this relation can be explained by other ways. So experiemental research is preferred.
