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WORK3209 Week 3 Research Methods > Research Methods in I/O Psychology (Riggio) > Flashcards

Research Methods in I/O Psychology (Riggio) Flashcards

1
Q

Scientific research methods rely on…

A

the systematic collection & analysis of data

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2
Q

It’s important for measurement to be…

A

Accurate & precise

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3
Q

Research methodology in psychology is…

A

A set of procedures that allow us to investigate the hows & whys of human behaviour & to predict when certain behaviour will and will not occur.

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4
Q

(1) What are the research methods used by I/O psychologists in studying work behaviour?

A

Testing through the collection of systematic observations of behaviour (of the chosen variables). Objectivity is the overriding theme of the social scientific method used to study work behaviour.

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5
Q

Objectivity is defined as..

A

The unbiased approach to observation & interpretations of behaviour

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6
Q

The Goal of I/O Psychology Research is to…

A

Describe, explain, & predict work behaviour

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7
Q

I/O psychology is the science of..

A

Behaviour at work

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8
Q

Examples of describing, explaining, & predicting work behaviour

A
  • describing the production levels, rates of employee absenteeism & turnover, or the number & type of interactions between supervisors & workers
  • explaining involves determining why certain work behaviours occur (i.e., high employee turnover rates because of high employee dissatisfaction with pay & benefits).
  • predicting involves using scores, theory, patterns to predict an outcome (i.e. use scores from a psychological tests to predict best employee for management position, or predict how employees respond to different types of incentive programs using a motivation theory).
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9
Q

I/O psychologists use research to alter or control work behaviour.

A

An I/O might implement an employee participation program as part of company policy decision making to improve levels of employee satisfaction (Locke & Schweiger, 1979)

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10
Q

(2) What are the step-by-step procedures used in social science research?

A
  • Formulation of the problem
  • Generation of Hypotheses
  • Choosing an Experimental design
  • Collection of Data
  • Statistical analyses of data
  • Interpretation of results and drawing of conclusions.
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11
Q

Examples of Hypotheses in I/O Psychology Research

A
  • Greater employee participation in organisational decision making is related to higher levels of job satisfaction (Locke & Schweiger, 1979)
  • Greater gender diversity is related to better company financial performance (Opstrup & Villadsen, 2015)
  • High rates of pay are related to high job satsifaction (this study only found a marginal relationship between pay & satisfaction) (Judge et al., 2010)
  • Use of tests of mechanical ability increases the effectiveness of selecting employees for mechanical & engineering positions (Muchinsky, 1993)
  • Applicants who are characterised by a higher degree of conscientiousness will exhibit higher levels of job performacne (Barrick & Mount, 1991)
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12
Q

I/O research hypothesis continued…

A
  • Employees with high job demands & fewer resources to do their job are more likely to experience job burnout (Nahrgang, Morgeson, & Hoffman, 2011)
  • As employees age increases, voluntary absenteeism decreases (Hackett, 1990)
  • Increasing employees’ sense of control over the work environment is related to reductions in work stress (Jackson, 1983)
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13
Q

Theories are used as a guide, they are not personal opinions & neither are they proven facts

A

I/O psychologists conduct research & finds support for-or - against the theory. It is only a starting point for understanding & influencing behaviour.

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14
Q

Models of human work behaviour are products of research, these may be existing & used to develop certain hypothesis about aspects of work behaviour

A

So first, determine the problem or issue , which variables do you intend to measure? (I.e., employee job satisfaction, employee loyalty, worker productivity, length of employment, employee absenteeism).

Second, write out a hypothesis, which is the statement concerning the supposed relationship between or among variables.

Third, test the hypothesis by collecting systematic observations of behaviour of the variables, which may be guided by existing research models, or models of human behaviour (they may be born through this research investigation).

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15
Q

Collection of Data

A
  • test the hypotheses through data collection
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16
Q

Sampling is defined as…

A

The selection of a representative group from a larger population for study

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17
Q

Random sampling

A
  • research participants are chosen from a population so that each individual has an equal probability of being chosen
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18
Q

Stratified sampling

A
  • the selection of research participants based on categories that represent important distinguishing characteristics of a population
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19
Q

Research Designs

A
  • Experimental design
  • Quasi-experiments
  • correlational design
  • Meta-analysis
  • Case study
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20
Q

Researchers need to use research designs to…

A

Test theories & collect data

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21
Q

Two Experimental Design Method

A
  • Laboratory
  • Field Experiment
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22
Q

Research conducted in a laboratory allows the researcher to have…

A

A great deal of control

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23
Q

Research conducted in an actual work setting is called a field experiment and the researcher …

A

Typically has less control but must maintain control over the situation in a field experiment to draw strong conclusions.

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24
Q

The experimental method is…

A

A research design characterised by a high degree of control over the research setting to allow for the determination of cause - and- effect relationships among variables.

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25
Q

The experimental method helps one collect data to solve problems. It’s better to have data to support your solution. What are other advice for sound research methods?

A
  • go to the primary source
  • find out the research evidence (if any) that supports the technique
  • read those reports with a critical eye (flaws that pose serious doubt on whether the method really works).
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26
Q

In the experimental methods, the researcher manipulates the independent variable, & measures its affect on the dependent variable.

A

Any change in the dependent variable is presumed to be caused by changes to the independent variable.

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27
Q

Independent variable in the experimental method is…

A

The variable manipulated by the researcher

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28
Q

The dependent variable in the experimental method is…

A

The variable that is acted on by the independent variable; the outcome variable.

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29
Q

When using people in the experiment we have two groups,

A
  • treatment group
  • control group
30
Q

The treatment group is…

A

Subjected to the change in the independent variable

31
Q

The control group is…

A

Not subjected to any treatment (placebo effect)

32
Q

There needs to be the control group so that researchers can see if there was any effect of the treatment. What was the effect, was there any effect, was it large or small changes to the individuals in the group? To draw accurate conclusions, a comparison group is necessary.

A

The control group helps rule out any normal fluctuations that might have occurred naturally in the absence of treatment (pretty important in pharmaceutical/ health studies ; i.e., diet, exercise).

33
Q

As long as variables can be broken into distinct categories of level….

A

Treatment & control groups can be gathered for the experiment.

34
Q

Extraneous variables

A

Variables other than the independent variable that may influence the dependent variable

35
Q

Example: Hawthorne Effect

A
  • the watchful eyes of the researchers was an extraneous variable that affected work productivity (dependent variable)
36
Q

How to eliminate the influence of the extraneous variables?

A

Hold all extraneous variables constant (i.e. groups are observed in same setting, at same time, using same equipment, and same methods).

37
Q

Random assignment

A

A method of assigning subjects to groups by chance to control for the effects of extraneous variables.

38
Q

How does random assignment control for
extraneous variables?

A

It helps ensure that nay motivational differences or other individual characteristics show up in equivalent proportions in both groups (i.e. Lion Lexus; participants asked which group they would want to be in, rather being randomly assigned; this gives rise to potential biases).

39
Q

Critique of the experimental method

A
  • artificiality ; researchers run the risk of generating artificial conditions that would not exists in the usual work setting.
40
Q

Quasi - Experiments

A

Follows the experimental design but lacks random assignment and/or manipulation of an independent variable. Cause-and-effect relationships cannot be determined. Quite common in I/O psychology because of difficulties in controlling extraneous variables, & often the unit of analysis is groups or organisations, rather than individuals.

41
Q

Groups needs to be …

A

As equivalent as possible

42
Q

Researchers should try to measure as many possible extraneous variables in quasi-experiments. Why?

A

To statistically control for the effects of extraneous variables & strengthen the results of the quasi-experiments.

43
Q

Correlational Method ( also called observational method)

A

A research design that examines the relationships among or between variables as they naturally occur.

44
Q

Difference between correlational method & experimental method

A

In the correlational method there is no manipulation of variables by the experimenter.

45
Q

What are the terms for statistical relationship?

A
  • Multiple regression analysis
46
Q

A multiple regression design

A

Examines the relationship between a particular outcome variable & multiple predictors

47
Q

We use the multiple regression design to determine how a number of variables correlate with a certain outcome, for example,

A

Skills, motivation & performance.

48
Q

Difference between correlational method & multiple regression design

A

multiple regression design allows a researcher to control for extraneous variables & examine the effect of one variable on another after controlling for (or “holding constant”) the effects of extraneous variables.

49
Q

Example of extraneous variables in examining how skills & motivation affect performance..

A
  • age & years of experience
50
Q

I/O psychologists infer causality through the use of a mediation model, which helps to explain

A

The relationship between two variables, mediated by a third variable - the mediator variable

51
Q

Job satisfaction & employee satisfaction is mediated by a third variable, which is…

A

Intention to quit (explaining causality)

52
Q

The correlational method is advantageous for…

A

Use in actual work settings and it’s easy to apply in field experiments. There’s no need for rigid control of independent & dependent variables.

53
Q

A great deal of work behaviour research uses the correlational method, however, researchers cannot use this method to determine…

A

Cause-and-effect relationships.

54
Q

Correlation does not necessarily imply causality

A

Which means you can’t make causal statements from correlations.

55
Q

Multiple regression design

A

Examines the relationships between a particular outcome variable & multiple predictors.

56
Q

Meta-Analysis

A
57
Q

Case Study Method

A
58
Q

Variables are defined as…

A

The elements measured in research investigations

59
Q

Hypotheses is defined as…

A

Statements about the supposed relationships between or among variables

60
Q

Theory/ Model is defined as …

A

The organisation of beliefs into a representation of the factors that affect behaviour (more general theory or model)

61
Q

Question 1 - Consider the steps in the research process. What are some of the major problems that are likely to be encountered at each step in the research process?

A

(1) I/O psychologist & the company have conflicting ideas about the variables that should be measured & what might be the actual problem of work behaviours.
The client (company management) may have trouble maintaining objectivity.

(2) Difficulty in the verification of inferences

(3) difficulty in acquiring the amount of control & resources, & setting needed for the research design (i.e. survey, observation rooms).

(4) Collecting a suitable sampling size

(5) Deciding on which statistical analysis to undertake for quantifying data . Limited knowledge or background on the software needed to analyse research data.

(6) interpretation of the data field in regards to the research ; should there be changes made to work behaviour, what are the limitations, & any relevance to actual work behaviour.

62
Q

Question 2 - What are the strengths & weaknesses of the experimental & the correlational methods? Under what circumstances would you use each?

A
  • Limits of generalisability of research findings across research settings.
63
Q

Strengths of the experimental method

A
  • can interpret cause-and-effect relationships
  • there is significant control which is important for the strength of conclusions
64
Q

Weaknesses of experimental method

A
  • I/O psychologist need to form two groups (or as many needed depending on the number of variables to be observed), which takes time & resources.
  • There is the potential for generating artificial work conditions in the laboratory setting.
65
Q

I would use the experimental research method when…

A

I need to find out the effect of a treatment (when I would like to implement a new work behaviour) (i.e. training program).

66
Q

Strengths of the correlational method

A
  • easier to implement research design in an actual work setting because there is less need for controlling variables, since we are observing for the natural relationship between variables.
  • can be conducted with archival data, which can be data that the organisation has already collected.
67
Q

Weaknesses of the correlational method

A
  • you can’t determine cause-and-effect relationships
  • easy to assume a positive or negative relationship is indicative of causality.
  • depending on the length of time for the observational study, researchers may need a number of years to generate insight desired.
68
Q

I would use the correlational method

A
  • when I would like to observe natural relationships between two variables (non-experimental) & I’d like to gather this data quickly, & I have the opportunity to do so in an actual work setting.
69
Q

Question 3- Consider the various measurement techniques used by I/O psychologists. Why are many of the variables used in I/O psychology difficult to measure?

A
70
Q

(3) How to interpret & apply research results to understand actual work behaviour.

A

WORK3209 Week 3 Research Methods (3 decks)

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