Statistics Assignments 4 + Output Interpretation
Explained
The Effects of Goal Orientation on Job Search
and Reemployment
Question 1
The study used a three-group field experimental design
Mixed design – several independent variables are being measured (1) some are
measured with different entities, while (2) others used the same entities
The three conditions of the study consist of different types of training:
(1) Learning goal workshops (LGO), (2) performance goal workshops (PGO), and (3)
control workshop
The researchers used randomization to assign participants to the conditions as randomization
of participants to experimental groups => avoids the problem of the covariate and the
treatment sharing variance
When participants are not randomly assigned to experimental treatment conditions =>
the treatment groups will differ on the covariate, thus putting the covariate into the
analysis will not control for or balance out those differences
Adding the covariate will not allow to look at the pure effect of the experimental
condition
The effect of the covariate would contain some of the variance from the effect of the
experimental condition
Testing The Equality of Group Means on Each Covariate Separately
,The effect of this random assignment can be evaluated by comparing the groups on all five
continuous variables that were measured at T0 (the start of the study)
The Welch test (i.e., testing whether the group means are significantly different) was also
carried out:
T0 Intentions
The group means do not differ on job search intentions prior to the workshops
The Welch test is non-significant with p = .805 => indicating that there
are no significant differences between group means
T0 Activities
The group means do not differ on job search activities prior to the
workshops
The Welch test is non-significant with p = .669 indicating that there are
no significant differences between the group means
Age
,In regards to age => there were no significant differences between group means as indicated
by the descriptives and the Welch test
Trait Learning and Goal Orientation
In regards to trait learning and goal orientation => the group means in the descriptives table
appear to be very much the same
- However, the Welch test is somewhat nearing significance
Trait Performance and Goal Orientation
The results in regards to trait performance and goal orientation are similar to those of the
covariate above
Question 2
The main research question => “Are unemployed job seekers who are trained in setting
learning goals for their job search more likely than others to be motivated to devote time and
effort to job seeking, resulting in higher job search intentions?”
Dependent and Independent Variables
Independent Variables (i.e., variables being manipulated):
, 1) Types of Training => three categories including control, learning goal, and
performance goal workshops
- Between-subject factor => different participants are assigned to different
category of the independent variable; a participant is assigned to and
experiences only one of the three categories
- Nominal/Categorical variable => the variable has three categories, without any
intrinsic ordering to the categories
Dependent Variables (i.e., variables being measured):
1) Job Search Intentions => directly after the training
- Between-subject factor => participants are measured on job search intentions
after training (only once) and the results are compared between participants of
different groups
- Measured using 8-item index of job search activities => participants had to
indicate how much time they had intended to spend on such activities
(response options: 1=no time at all to 5=very much time)
- Interval variable => the intervals between the values of the numerical variable
are equally spaced
2) Job Search Behavior => two weeks after the training
- Between-subject factor => participants are measured on job search behavior
after training (only once) and the results are compared between participants of
different groups
- Measured using 8-item index of job search activities => participants had to
indicate how much time they had spent on such activities (response options:
1=no time at all to 5=very much time)
- Interval variable => the intervals between the values of the numerical variable
are equally spaced
ANCOVA Test
ANCOVA test => the effectiveness of the workshops with respect to job search intentions at
T1 – when controlling for job search intentions at T0
Explained
The Effects of Goal Orientation on Job Search
and Reemployment
Question 1
The study used a three-group field experimental design
Mixed design – several independent variables are being measured (1) some are
measured with different entities, while (2) others used the same entities
The three conditions of the study consist of different types of training:
(1) Learning goal workshops (LGO), (2) performance goal workshops (PGO), and (3)
control workshop
The researchers used randomization to assign participants to the conditions as randomization
of participants to experimental groups => avoids the problem of the covariate and the
treatment sharing variance
When participants are not randomly assigned to experimental treatment conditions =>
the treatment groups will differ on the covariate, thus putting the covariate into the
analysis will not control for or balance out those differences
Adding the covariate will not allow to look at the pure effect of the experimental
condition
The effect of the covariate would contain some of the variance from the effect of the
experimental condition
Testing The Equality of Group Means on Each Covariate Separately
,The effect of this random assignment can be evaluated by comparing the groups on all five
continuous variables that were measured at T0 (the start of the study)
The Welch test (i.e., testing whether the group means are significantly different) was also
carried out:
T0 Intentions
The group means do not differ on job search intentions prior to the workshops
The Welch test is non-significant with p = .805 => indicating that there
are no significant differences between group means
T0 Activities
The group means do not differ on job search activities prior to the
workshops
The Welch test is non-significant with p = .669 indicating that there are
no significant differences between the group means
Age
,In regards to age => there were no significant differences between group means as indicated
by the descriptives and the Welch test
Trait Learning and Goal Orientation
In regards to trait learning and goal orientation => the group means in the descriptives table
appear to be very much the same
- However, the Welch test is somewhat nearing significance
Trait Performance and Goal Orientation
The results in regards to trait performance and goal orientation are similar to those of the
covariate above
Question 2
The main research question => “Are unemployed job seekers who are trained in setting
learning goals for their job search more likely than others to be motivated to devote time and
effort to job seeking, resulting in higher job search intentions?”
Dependent and Independent Variables
Independent Variables (i.e., variables being manipulated):
, 1) Types of Training => three categories including control, learning goal, and
performance goal workshops
- Between-subject factor => different participants are assigned to different
category of the independent variable; a participant is assigned to and
experiences only one of the three categories
- Nominal/Categorical variable => the variable has three categories, without any
intrinsic ordering to the categories
Dependent Variables (i.e., variables being measured):
1) Job Search Intentions => directly after the training
- Between-subject factor => participants are measured on job search intentions
after training (only once) and the results are compared between participants of
different groups
- Measured using 8-item index of job search activities => participants had to
indicate how much time they had intended to spend on such activities
(response options: 1=no time at all to 5=very much time)
- Interval variable => the intervals between the values of the numerical variable
are equally spaced
2) Job Search Behavior => two weeks after the training
- Between-subject factor => participants are measured on job search behavior
after training (only once) and the results are compared between participants of
different groups
- Measured using 8-item index of job search activities => participants had to
indicate how much time they had spent on such activities (response options:
1=no time at all to 5=very much time)
- Interval variable => the intervals between the values of the numerical variable
are equally spaced
ANCOVA Test
ANCOVA test => the effectiveness of the workshops with respect to job search intentions at
T1 – when controlling for job search intentions at T0
