Page 109 - [Uma_Sekaran]_Research_methods_for_business__a_sk(BookZZ.org)

VARIABLES 93

the need to develop and grow on the job is strong), the greater is their willing-
ness to learn new ways of doing things.

Situation 2
Another research study indicates that the willingness of the employees to learn
new ways of doing things is not influenced by the quality of the training pro-
grams offered by the organizations to all people without any distinction. Only
those with high growth needs seem to have the yearning to learn to do new
things through specialized training.
In the above two situations, we have the same three variables. In the first case,
the training programs and growth need strength are the independent variables
that influence employees’ willingness to learn, which is the dependent variable.
In the second case, however, the quality of the training program is the indepen-
dent variable, and while the dependent variable remains the same, growth need
strength becomes a moderating variable. In other words, only those with high
growth needs show a greater willingness and adaptability to learn to do new
things when the quality of the training program is improved. Thus the relation-
ship between the independent and dependent variables has now become con-
tingent on the existence of a moderator.
The above illustration makes it clear that even though the variables used are
the same, the decision whether to label them dependent, independent, or mod-
erating depends on how they affect one another. The differences between the
effects of the independent and the moderating variables could be visually
depicted as in Figure 5.5A and 5.5B (see page 94).
Note the steep incline of the top line and the relative flatness of the bottom
line in Figure 5.5B.

Now do Exercises 5.5 and 5.6
Exercise 5.5
List and label the variables in this and the following exercise and explain
and diagram the relationships among the variables.
A manager finds that off-the-job classroom training has a great impact on
the productivity of the employees in her department. However, she also
observes that employees over 60 years of age do not seem to derive much
benefit and do not improve with such training.
Exercise 5.6
A visitor to a factory observes that the workers in the packing department
have to interact with one another to get their jobs done. The more they
interact, the more they seem to tend to stay after hours and go to the local
pub together for a drink. However, the women packers, even though they
interact with the others as much as the men, do not stay late, nor do they
visit the pub after work hours.