Research Methods in I/O Psych

Research Methods in I/O Psych Woohoo!

Step 1: Formulate the Problem • Use previous research literature • Theory can be helpful • Develop the Research Question • The “point” of your research • Quick groups • Job Stress Problem

Step 2: Develop Hypotheses • Best guess of answer to research question • Increases, decreases, more, less • Hypotheses can come from theory • A “model” of what we expect to happen • Quick groups: Your hyps

Variables • A key characteristic of hypotheses is that they are compose of variables • Variables are attributes or characteristics of people that can vary.

Are these Variables? • Gender • Income Level • Ethnicity • Job satisfaction • Stress • College major • College major in an advanced physics class • Gender in an all girl’s school • Quick groups: what are your variables?

Types of Variables • Independent Variables: Manipulated by the researcher • Dependent Variables: Assessed by researcher • IV is “cause” and DV is “effect” • In experiments ONLY • Called predictor and criterion in correlational methods

Measurement of Variables • Must operationalize variables • Determine how to measure them • Obtrusive vs. Unobtrusive (observed) • Measured vs. Manipulated • Objective vs. Self-report • Questionnaires • Quick Group: Operationalize your vars

Step 3: Pick a research method • Experimental Research • Researcher manipulates IVs and measures the DV • Often conducted in labs • Can be conducted in the “field” • Within organizations

Important Experimental Concepts • Test and Control Group • Random Assignment • Everyone has the same chance of being assigned to either group • Use exact same procedures for both groups

Control for… • Confounding • “Extraneous” variables that might also affects the DV. • E.g., • Neuroticism and stress • Social support and stress • Quick Groups: Stress Experiment

Quasi Experimental Research • Experiments WITHIN organizations • Most times they violate a major characteristic of a true experiment • Usually random assignment

Correlational Research • Often this involves survey research • Paper and Pencil or Web questionnaires • Random Selection • Everyone has the same chance of being picked to participate • Stratified Random Selection • Not so much an issue with web surveys

Correlational Research • Information from employees or others? • Cross-sectional vs Longitudinal • Advantages • Disadvantages • Quick Groups: Survey for Stress

Meta-Analysis • Analysis of many different studies • Going beyond a “brick in the wall” • Want to determine population effect size • Example: GPA and job performance

Step 4: Analyze the Results • Using Statistics • T-tests and ANOVAs • Correlations, regressions • Structural Equation Modeling • Hierarchical Linear Modeling • Internal Validity • Can we make a causal Claim? • Have we eliminated all the confounds?

Step 5: Interpreting and Using the data • The whole point of I/O research! • We can use the results to develop more theory • Can use the results to solve problems

External Validity • Generalizability • How well research results translated to other settings, places and people • What does the research generalize to? • Theory or practice • A problem with I/O experiments • Groups and Leadership

Research Methods in I/O Psych