CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY- BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH (TOPIC FACILITATION))

TYPES OF VARIABLES IN BEHAVIORAL RESEARH

Predictions - To foretell ; The making of statement or forming of an opinion about what will happen in the future

2 Types of Variables

·         Criterion (Dependent or measured variable ) –

-          It can be predicted (such as job performance, job satisfaction, absenteeism, or heart rate)

-          Control of predictor

·         Predictor (Independent or controlled variable) –

-          Predicting the criterion (such as test scores, measures of physical characteristics, or measures of other personal characteristics)

-          Effects

TYPES OF MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES

Measurement – is basic to any statistical treatment or research data

4 basic types of measurements

Nominal scale – general type of variable in question ( as places of residence and job satisfaction) or maybe in by level

Ordinal scale – used to characterize the rank order on some variable of individual cases (how much difference there is between adjacent ranks).

Interval scale – individual cases have number associated with them, and these number are significant in the any given numerical difference, in any there a long the scale theoretically.

-          Represents an equal difference in the underlying variables.

Ratio scale – cases have numerical value that as with the interval scales in the variable being (ex. Height and weight)

BASIC RESEARCH STRATEGIES

·         Most important fact to remember:

-          Research is conducted in order to answer some question

-          Research is that no matter what method is used there is always some possible alternative explanation for the results contain.

·         Research strategy selected can be developed on the basis of the answers to three basics questios:

1.       What variables need to be studied?

2.       How should these variables be treated?

3.       In what setting should the research be under taken?

SELECTION OF VARIABLES

-          The choice of the variable would be affected by practical as well as by theoretical concerns.

TREATMENT OF VARIABLES IN RESEARCH

I.                    Do not measure

a)      Ignore ( Treatment 1)

b)      Randomization (Treatment 2)

II.                  Measure under the ff: conditions

a)      With no manipulation (Treatment 3)

b)      Manipulated by:

1.       Holding constant (Treatment 4)

2.       Matching (Treatment 5)

3.       Creating specific level of categories (Treatment 6)

RESEARCH SETTINGS

·         Laboratory studies – very contrived and artificial settings created by the researcher.

·         Field studies – done in natural settings.

EXPERIMENTAL AND CORRELATIONAL STRATEGIES

·         Experimental – involves in some form of manipulation of the predictor.

-          Used commonly in laboratory strategies

·         Correlational – data are obtained on the predictor and criterion variables for each case in the sample ( each case usually being an individual) without any experimental manipulation or control.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN RESEARCH

-          The reader should have at least passing acquaintance with certain basic concepts and methods.

CORRELATION

-          Is a statistical index of the degree of linear relationship between two variables

CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY- JOBS AND ANALYSIS

       People's jobs represents the manner in which they contribute to the production of the goods and services of the economy. Jobs also are means of earning daily  bread.

CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY- BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH

       Most behavioral research is aimed at making  "predictions" of relevant behavior that typically require the use of two types of variables, criterion (dependent variable) and predictor (independent or controlled variable).

     1. Criterion - characterizes  some types of behavior such as job performance, job satisfaction. absenteeism or heart rate.
     2. Predictor - used in predicting the criterion, in some instances predictors are individual variables such as test scores, or measures of physical characteristics or measures of other personal characteristics; they are measures of situational characteristics such as size of the work group, method of training or noise level.


      There are four basic types of measurement or scales and these are:

          Nominal Scale - (categorical) is one that has two or more mutually exclusive classes or categories of the general type of variable in question. Individuals might be categorized according to highest degree. Variables can also vary in level.

          Ordinal Scale - used to characterized the rank order.

          Interval Scale - equal difference in the underlying variable.

          Ratio Scale - the individual cases have numerical values that , as with the interval scale , represent equal differences in the variable being measured.

CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY- BASES OF JOB-RELATED BEHAVIOR

       The world of human work consists of individuals performing jobs in some setting, usually in some  organization. The same "types" of people in essentially the same jobs but in different organizations with different work groups may perform quite differently because of the different settings. Many matches are far from perfect  and it is reflected in any of many different ways such:

• differences in how well people perform their jobs
• differences in how long people stay on their job,  ( how often they are late for work, and  variations in how well people like their jobs,)

• differences in the number and severity of injuries people experience on their jobs
• lastly, differences  in how well people can "take"  their jobs physically and psychologically

 2 DIMENSIONS OF BEHAVIOR

    1.  Quantitative - most job-related behaviors can be quantified ( they can be measured ) .

                                We usually can measure such behavior as job performance such as quantity numbers of  errors , accuracy .. etch.

    2. Qualitative - behavior is viewed somewhere along the scale of goodness-badness and desirable-undesirable.

CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY- INTRODUCTION

    Industrial psychology is the study of human behavior in the work -related aspects of life and application of knowledge of human behavior to minimize human problems.
    Industrial psychologist become involved in a variety of activities and their responsibilities can be viewed as relating either to the science of  psychology (with emphasis on research) or to the profession of psychology (with an emphasis on the application of knowledge and insight to problems).

    *Industrial Psychology as Science
           The solution to most of the human problems in industry requires knowledge of human behavior. Such knowledge can be derived in part through experience, and it would be a  poor observer of human behavior , who did not , through observation and experience , develop some useful insights and that insights is derived from EXPERIENCE.
    
*Industrial Psychology as a Profession
      In industry this can include consulting, program development and individual evaluation.
Psychologist in industry may also use their psychological background in dealing with individuals in connection with other function in an organization, such as helping resolving individual or organizational conflicts. They treat human behavior in conceptual terms rather than on an individual basis.