WEEK 2 DISCUSSION - Essay Example

Relationship between the Hypothesis, Data Collection Methods, and Statistical Analysis Ongori and Joseph, (2008) analyzed the data of their study quantitatively using SPSS descriptive statistics. The statistical analysis measured the causes, symptoms, effects, as well as interventions for occupational stress. Some of the assumptions made were that employees are exposed to similar working environment and are likely to face similar occupational stressors. The assumptions apply to the data in the article since the participants were all drawn from public institutions where the conditions are likely to be similar.

Moreover, the responses from the participants were quite similar. There were several statistically significant findings depicted in the results. The most significant was that 82% of the respondents agreed that workload was a major cause of stress in workplaces. This finding was consistent with findings from a previous study by Topper. Ongori and Joseph, (2008) found out that occupational stress had several effects on the employees and was one of the major causes of employee’s turnover. Moreover, the study findings showed there are several stressors in organizations that require addressing.

Some of the stressors identified include increased workload, insecurity regarding the future, inadequate resources in the work places, organizational conflicts, and the poor communication methods used in some work places. The results were quite mixed with those from previous studies. The researchers attempted to establish the credibility of the findings by repeatedly comparing them with those from previous studies regarding stressors in work places (Ongori & Joseph, 2008).The authors presented the hypothesis of the study, which was that there are occupational stressors that reduce the productivity of workers (Ongori & Joseph, 2008).

The hypothesis was inferred and not clearly stated. However, the research findings supported the hypothesis since the sources, effects, symptoms, and interventions of occupational stress were identified.Although the study made use of random sampling, it could also have been conducted through online self-administered surveys. This would have resulted in a higher number of respondents and the sample would have been homogeneous since it would include respondents from private as well as public institutions.

The results were analyzed using quantitative method or the statistical package for social science (SPSS) method. However, analysis using mixed method could have been another appropriate method. It would have allowed the researchers to analyze the stressors more adequately. This would have enabled the researchers come up with more stronger findings since the method allow researchers explore more complex aspects and use a larger sample (Malina, Hanne, Nørreklit, & Selto, 2011).The research findings are quite valid and agreeable.

This is because the researchers compared their findings with those from previous studies and the findings were quite similar. Moreover, the largest percentage of the participants appeared to agree on the stressors that were being researched on. To generalize the results to other contexts, populations and settings it would be important it would be important to highlight other researchers conducted using larger and more representative samples and demonstrate the similarities and differences of their finding to those of this research.

To generalize the findings to other settings, it would be necessary to describe the similarities and differences of the context of this research with other contexts. This would entail demonstrating the proximal similarities between the various contexts (Ongori & Joseph, 2008). The authors discuss the limitations of their study. They posit that the quantitative method used in the study has its limitations, which could have affected the study findings. Although the researchers discuss the limitations of their study, there are other limitations of this study.

One other limitation is the unrepresentative study sample. The research was conducted in only five institutions and all of them were public institutions. Moreover, of all the 125 questionnaires, only 75 were completed and returned. This comprises 60%, which the researchers considered appropriate (Ongori & Joseph, 2008). On the contrary, such a sample is quite small and unrepresentative. There are potential further studies that could result from Ongori and Joseph, (2008) study. Potential studies include the effectiveness of existing work place interventions in reducing occupational stress.

ReferencesMalina, M. A., Hanne S.O. Nørreklit, & Selto, F. H. (2011). Lessons learned: Advantages and disadvantages of mixed method research. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 8(1), 59-71. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/11766091111124702 Ongori, H., & Joseph, E. A. (2008). Occupational stress in organizations and its effects on organizational performance. Journal of Management Research, 8(3), 123-135. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/237227424?accountid=45049