Dr. Jones works as an industrial/organizational psychologist for a large microch

Question

Dr. Jones works as an industrial/organizational psychologist for a large microchip manufacturing plant in Phoenix, AZ. The company is contemplating moving to a flex-time work schedule for its employees. Instead of working 5 days a week at the traditional 8-hour shift from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with an hour off for lunch, employees will work four 10-hour shifts choosing which 4 days to work. Although other companies have reported that flex time schedules increase both employee morale and production levels, the company executives are concerned that not enough employees will be on site during critical production times. They ask Dr. Jones to carry out an evaluation study of the new work schedule. There are two fabrication units at the plant, Fab A and Fab B. Company records give monthly production levels for each unit. Dr. Jones chooses to move all employees in Fab A to the new flex schedule for the next three months. Employees in Fab B will stay on their old schedule. The figure attached to the first question shows chip production levels for the two units for the 3 month trial period (2010) along with comparable data from the previous year (2009).

What kind of study was this?

Was there an independent variable? A dependent variable?

Why is it unlikely that a true experiment could be performed?

How many different groups of participants were there?

What was the research hypothesis for the study? What are your conclusions from looking at the data?

Explanation / Answer

This is an experimental study where there are two groups, one control group that doesn’t receive any treatment but the other experimental group that receives the treatment.

The dependent variable is the flexible working schedule and the dependent variable is the productivity of the employees.

Employees who are on the regular shift might also have the same amount of productivity.

There were two different groups of participants, one with the old schedule and the other one with a flexible schedule

Does flexible working schedule increase the productivity of the employees?

or

Employees perform better with a flexible working schedule.

Note – The data which is said to be attached is not there with the question, so I’m not able to answer your last question. The two research hypothesis are written by me.

Thank you.

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