Lecture 4 Research Process in IO Psychology

Purposes of Research Solve an organizational problem Answer a scientific question Explore an issue Test a theory

Research Question Every study begins with a research question Can be general or specific Specific leads to hypotheses that are easy to test Hypothesis Researcher’s best guess about what the results of a study will be Most research questions and hypotheses are based off prior research

Formulate the RQ: “I think that female employees hesitate to ask job-related questions to their male managers. Do you think it is true?” “Seda, I heard that graduates of Koc University complain about working in jobs that do not make use of their qualifications. Do you think it is true?”

4 different types of RQs to test the second observation in the previous slide RQ1: Do KU graduates complain about underemployment more than the graduates of other universities? RQ2: Are overqualified people less motivated in their jobs than other employees? RQ3: Does underemployment reduce the motivation of university graduates? RQ4: What is the rate of KU students who feel underemployed?

Research Design Concepts Variables Independent, dependent, moderating, mediating Research Setting Field vs. Laboratory Generalizability Control Randomization Random assignment Random selection Confounding

Variables Independent variable Dependent variable Control variable Moderating variable IV DV MoV Mediating variable IV MeV DV

Comparison of research designs / methods Laboratory Experiment Field (Quasi-experiment) Questionnaire (Survey) Observation Computer Simulation Control (potential for testing causal relationships) High Moderate Low Low / medium high Realism (naturalness of setting) Moderate/ high

You are an I/O Psychologist for an insurance company You are an I/O Psychologist for an insurance company. You want to assess which of two training methods is most effective for training new secretaries. You give one group of secretaries on-the-job training and a booklet to study at home. You give the second group of secretaries on-the-job training and have them watch a 30-minute video. What is the independent variable in this study? What would be a logical dependent variable? What variables might you want to control in this study? Why might this field experiment involve less control than if it were a laboratory experiment? Can you think of any other conditions you may want to test?

Exercise answers Research method: Independent variable(s): Dependent variable(s): Independent variable(s): Dependent variable(s): 5. Research method: Lab experiment Group (training or not) Salary negotiated Survey method Financial diff., employ.,commit., social support, and time structure Mental and Physical Health Field experiment / Quasi-experiment Shift worked Productivity and turnover Experiment Machine Products produced and number of rejects Laboratory experiment MATCH of the race of the rater and ratee Work performance ratings

Type of RQs and Corresponding Statistics Relationships among variables E.g., there is a positive relationship between work hours and burnout. Corresponding statistical test: e.g., Correlation, regression, path analysis Differences among groups E.g., females experience work-family conflict more than males. Corresponding statistical test: e.g., T-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA,

Ethics of Research General principle: Do No Harm Standards American Psychological Association Academy of Management Protecting health and well-being of research participants Informed consent Confidentiality Ethical dilemmas Interests of the employee vs. the organization