Exercise 6.

A supervisor 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?
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Exercise 6.1
2. Is this an exploratory, descriptive, or hypothesis-testing (analytical or predictive) study? Why? 3. What kind of study would this be: field study, lab experiment, or field experiment? Why? 4. What would be the unit of analysis? Why? 5. Would this be a cross-section or a longitudinal study? Why?
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Exercise 6.1

1.

2.

Answers: This would be a causal study because the operator wants to prove to the supervisor that the fumes are causing operators to be low in their efficiency. In other words, the machine tool operator is trying to establish the fact that fumes cause low efficiency in workers. This is an analytical study because the machine tool operator wants to establish that fumes cause low efficiency and convince his workshop supervisor through such analysis (i.e. establish cause and effect relationship).
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Exercise 6.1
3.

4.

This would be a field experiment. Though the study would be set up in the natural environment of the workers where the work is normally done, the amount of fumes will have to be manipulated while other factors such as atmospheric pressure may have to be controlled. Because of the location of the study, it will be a field experiment. The unit of analysis would be the individual operators. The data will be collected with respect to each operator and then the conclusions will be made as to whether the operators are less efficient because of the fumes emitted in the workshop.
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Exercise 6.1
5.

This would be a longitudinal study because data will be gathered at more than one point in time. First, the efficiency of the operators would be assessed at a given rate of fume emission. Then the fumes emitted would be manipulated to varying degrees, and at each manipulation, the efficiency of the workers would again be assessed to confirm that the high rate of fume emission causes a drop in operators efficiency.
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Exercise 6.1
6.

This would be a longitudinal study because data will be gathered at more than one point in time. First, the efficiency of the operators would be assessed at a given rate of fume emission. Then the fumes emitted would be manipulated to varying degrees, and at each manipulation, the efficiency of the workers would again be assessed to confirm that the high rate of fume emission causes a drop in operators efficiency.
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