QUESTION 1

Based on the below paragraph, identify and justify FOUR factors affecting aging workers to retire early.

As the HRM practices examined in the present study either address important needs among aging workers or tend to push them away from employment, they appear to be particularly targeted at influencing older workers employment decisions. For example, training opportunities may enhance older workers self-development and personal growth (Maurer & Rafuse, 2001). Similarly, assigning aging workers to such new roles as mentor or coach for less-tenured employees is a way for employers to provide older workers with challenging work that fits their unique skills and accommodates their needs (Glass, 1994; Mirvis & Hall, 1996). Likewise, flexible work arrangements allow older workers to reconcile their desires to stay employed and achieve work-life balance (Atchley, 1993; Siegrist et al., 2007). In contrast, some organizations encourage aging workers to retire early because they want to reduce personnel costs. Such practices, obviously, may induce voluntary retirement (Hardy & Quadagno, 1995; Shultz et al., 1998; Taylor & Shore, 1995).

QUESTION 2

The manager of Haines Company observes that the morale of employees in her company is low. She thinks that if their working conditions are improved, pay scales raised, and the vacation benefits made attractive, the morale will be boosted. She doubts, however, if an increase in pay scales would raise the morale of all employees. Her conjecture is that those who have supplemental incomes will just not be turned on by higher pay, and only those without side incomes will be happy with increased pay, with a resultant boost in morale.

List and label the variables in this situation and explain the relationships among the variables. What might be the problem statement or problem definition for the situation?

QUESTION 3

A foreman thinks that the low efficiency of the machine tool operators is directly linked to the high level of fumes emitted in the workshop. He would like to prove this to his supervisor through a research study.

1. Would this be a causal or a correlational study? Why?
2. Is this an exploratory, descriptive, or hypothesis-testing study? Why?
3. What kind of a study would this be: field study, lab experiment, or field experiment? Why?
4. What would be the unit of analysis? Why?

QUESTION 4

Ms. Joyce Lynn, the owner of a small business (a womans dress boutique), has invited a consultant to tell her how she is different from similar small business within a 60-mile radius, in regard to her usage of the most modern computer technology, sales volume, profit margin, and staff training.

Above is the scenario, and indicate how the researcher should proceed with the following, giving reasons:

1. The purpose of the study
2. The type of investigation
3. The extent of researcher interference
4. The study setting
5. The time horizon for the study