Posted: October 6th, 2016

Suggest a specific two stage hierarchical hypothesis that is consistent with the theory described above, and which can be tested using a hierarchical regression analysis. T

Question 1

The management of a large insurance company were interested in identifying factors which might have an impact on workplace efficiency. In a hypothetical study, the following information was collected from a random sample of the company’s employees:

Efficiency Level of efficiency at work

Morale Workplace morale

Stress Work related stress

Transport Mode of transport to work

ExerPartic Participation in workplace exercise program

Experience Number of years experience in current position

Health General health

The data is recorded in Wbk2_Q1 2016.sav and a bit more information about each variable is given in the labels in this data file. Assume that if a variable has no value labels, it is measured on a metric scale.

It was suggested that people with more work experience, those who walk or cycle to work and those who feel less stressed tend to be more efficient. There is also evidence to suggest that people with high workplace morale, and those who are in better health tend to be more efficient.

Recently there has been speculation on the value of work place exercise programs. Researchers have suggested that providing an environment conducive to exercising at work would improve work efficiency.

Various links between these predictors have been proposed:

Employees who take part in the work place exercise program, and those who walk or cycle to work are expected to have higher morale, to be less stressed and to be in better health.

Employees who are more experienced tend to be less stressed and to have higher morale. Employees who are in better health are expected to be less stressed

a. Look at the variables in the Wbk2_Q1 2016.sav data file and decide how each variable has been measured (categorical or metric). Note that the level of measurement for all variables has been set as ‘nominal’, so you will need to look at the information given and redefine the ‘measure’ to ‘scale’ for some variables. DO NOT recode any variables. Fill in the level of measurement in the table provided in the Workbook 2 Answer document.

b. Suggest a specific two stage hierarchical hypothesis that is consistent with the theory described above, and which can be tested using a hierarchical regression analysis. The dependent variable here is workplace efficiency, and you are expected to include four appropriate predictors. NOTE: It does not matter whether the data supports your hypothesis or not.

c. In the hypothesis from part b, which variables are acting as potential mediating variables?

d. In order to test the hypothesis suggested in part b, which predictors should be entered at stage 1 of the regression? Which predictors should be entered at stage 2?
There is no need to write a report for this question.
Relevant output from this question should be pasted into a word document and included in the Workbook 2 Answer document. A test of the regression assumptions is not necessary.