Perception of Working Conditions - Case Study Example

Application: Method Section – Part Affiliation: Summary of Job Attitudes1 Perception of Working Conditions Perception of workingconditions is one among the attitudes that have a direct influence on employee output or productivity within the workplace. Working conditions are associated with the number of variables that affect the employee in terms of the working space allocated or assigned to an individual employee. With reference to bad working conditions such as small space, unhygienic working areas, or exposure to dangerous machinery of other products such as products/equipment, employees tend to lose the attachment they have with their responsibilities. In this case, the perception of working conditions is a major attitude area that requires measuring to ensure that the firm is able to increase or address the associated issues. Perception of Pay and Promotion Unequal chances as well as favoritism within the workplace are causes of attitude changes in employees. Provided that employees require to be compensated fairly with regards to the type and scope of work they perform, it is observed that pay and promotion are among issues that have an influential effect on employee performance and productivity. Based on the perception of the working conditions, pay and promotion considerations affects the manner in which the employees perceive their worth within the firm or organization. For well compensated employees, the perception of promotion may be negative given the promotion process as well as employee performance evaluation. Perception of Job Security In most cases, employees seek to advance their careers in terms of responsibilities as well as in terms of compensation. However, based on changes within the firm, if employees do not feel the sense of security in their line of duty, their productivity is likely to go down. With other organizations offering better job security and helping employees advance their careers, employees within an environment that does not guarantee job security are in most cases tempted to seek employment in organizations with better job securities. Summary of Three Instruments Questionnaires Among the widely used forms of data collection methods is the application of primary research in which a sample is considered and information collected using a variety of methods. Among the instruments for data collection in primary research include questionnaires. Questionnaires can be printed and issued to sample members for filling. However, in cases where researchers or participants do not have enough time to gather for the exercise, virtual questionnaires are send through emailing or other communication means. In this case, the research is able to collect data remotely. Interviews Interviews take various forms. Among the various forms of interviews include virtual interviews in which video conferencing can be used to reach the participants. On the other hand, live one-on-one interviews involve the researcher and the participant interacting on a personal level where the interviewer projects questions to the interviewee. The data from the interview can be recorded using video camera, audio recorder, or the interviewer can take notes. Survey Surveys enable researchers to gather an extensive amount of data through the use of directed questions or pointers. Through questions, a research projects a number of options for the participant to choose from indicating their position on the subject matter. For instance, in order to find out whether employees’ performance is connected or associated with salary, a research can provide a range of salary ranges (such as $20,000 to $30,000) with a corresponding pointer suggesting that the participant should select or tick the answer that is most relevant to them. Justification of Instruments With reference to questionnaires, a variety of advantages to justify their applicability in this research are considered. One of the major advantages of questionnaires is that they can be reproduced in whatever form they exist in. For instance, printed copies of a questionnaire can be photocopied to reproduce more copies. This approach is valid and useful in cases where damage to some copies is resulted. On the other hand, based on the number of participants, the questionnaires can be reproduced to meet sample size without incurrence of major costs. Virtual questionnaires that are send to emails or through other communication channels such as social media can be reproduced by simple copy and paste approach. In this case, regardless of whether some questionnaires are damages or additional are required, their very nature makes them suitable for this research. Interviews on the other hand, have a variety of benefits to the researcher and the research process in general. For instance, the use of interviews such as live one-on-one enables the researcher to acquire as much information on subject matter as possible. Due to the flexibility in interviews, an interviewer is able to pose follow-up questions to ensure that a point is explicitly explored. On the other hand, virtual interviews also serve the crucial role of time management. Time management is an essential business consideration especially in cases where the interviewer and the interviewee are miles apart from one another. In order to limit the travel time, virtual interviews enable the researcher and the participants to communicate through view conferencing or through voice calls. Finally, surveys provide a quick way of gathering information through the provision of questions or points that participants have to respond regarding their position on the subject matter. With reference to number of participants, surveys aim at picking up differences or similarities within a sample. In addition, surveys provide a collective response regarding a sample and are applicable in cases where a variety of observations are made prior. For instance, the current research can make use of surveys as research instruments to ensure that the overall issues affecting employee output are measured in terms of scope and effect. Summary of Psychometric Properties of Instruments Questionnaires Among the psychometric properties for questionnaires include validity and reliability. In order to test whether responses from participants are valid, quantification of the responses is expected in order to show how participants are affected by the same or different types of variables. For instance, in order to test the validity of responses, a research may compute responses using a statistical program to establish correlation of data variables. In addition, in terms of reliability, using statistical approaches that consider a 95% confidence level, the reliability of the responses can be achieved. This, however, must consider a dependent variable and a variety of independent variables. Interviews The psychometric properties of interviews are mostly associated with validity. Validity in interview responses can be achieved through the consideration of thematic instances. Thematic instances are mostly applicable in qualitative research in which numerical data is absent. Based on literature on the subject as well as development of various themes, the observed characteristics or phenomenon of the sample can be validated. For instance, if a group of employees is selected as a sample for the research, an open-ended interview may generate a couple of themes which are validated through the consideration of keywords. The repetitive nature of some keywords shows the validity of the tested phenomenon. Surveys Like questionnaires, surveys serve the purpose of informing the extent in which certain types of trends or observations affect a certain area. In this case, validity and reliability are psychometric properties of surveys as they intent to show how much of a tested phenomenon affects a certain portion of the sample. Through validity, an observed phenomenon without supporting evidence or responses through a survey refutes the validity of the phenomenon. On the other hand, based on confidence level, the reliability analysis of the survey responses serves as psychometric property. Summary of Items and Scoring Methods for the Instruments1 References Read More