business research

University of Phoenix Material

Research Question Two Variable Handout

The research question (RQ) is developed from the business problem. Each variable is operationally defined so that reliable measurements may be taken. This DQ represents a managerial problem statement that needs to be put into a form that can be tested.

The independent and dependent variables are identified. The variables may be attribute (non-numeric) or numerical. More commonly, the dependent variable is the one that is numeric and measured. When there are two numeric variables, the IV generally precedes the DV.

Below are three cases.

Case 1: DV Numeric, IV Attribute

A manager asks why the productivity is different based on three daily shifts. To test this statement, we may first want to validate the observation. A hypothesis test will be decisive as to whether the productivity is different because of normal variation (by chance alone,) or whether there is statistical significance.

Productivity is abstract, so it is operationalized to be measure cases of product per hour.

A RQ may be as such:

RQ: Is there a difference in productivity (DV) based on the production shift (IV)?

Variables are productivity, numeric data, and shift, attribute data.

The hypothesis statements are the next step.

Ho: There is no difference in productivity (DV) based on the production shift (IV).

H1: There is a difference in productivity (DV) based on the production shift (IV).

Notice the alternate hypothesis, H1, is nearly identical to the RQ. Then notice the relationship between

H1 and Ho.

Case 2: DV Numeric, IV Numeric

A manager asks why a product’s profitability is inconsistent with sales.

Profitability is abstract, so it is operationalized to be measure Gross Profit (= Sales Revenue - Cost of

Goods Sold)

A RQ may be as such:

RQ: Is there a correlation in product profitability (DV) based on product sales (IV)?

Variables are profitability, numeric, and sales, numeric data.

The hypothesis statements are the next step.

Ho: There is no correlation in product profitability (DV) based on product sales (IV).

H1: There is a correlation in product profitability (DV) based on product sales (IV).

Case 3: DV Attribute, IV Attribute

A HR manager believes employees on the back shift are less satisfied than those on the day shift.

Satisfied is abstract, so it is operationalized to be Very Satisfied – Satisfied – In Different – Dissatisfied –Very Dissatisfied. Satisfaction has been operationalized by using a validate survey questionnaire.

A RQ may be as such:

RQ: Is there a relationship between employee satisfaction (DV) and specific shift (IV)?

Variables are satisfaction, attribute, and shift, attribute data.

The hypothesis statements are the next step.

Ho: There is no relationship between employee satisfaction (DV) and specific shift (IV).

H1: There is a relationship between employee satisfaction (DV) and specific shift (IV).