STA630 - Research Methods Assignment 1 Fall 2025 Idea Solution

Research Methods (STA630)

Assignment 1 — Fall 2025 | Total Marks: 10

Assignment Title:

Analysing Variables and Hypothesis in a Business Scenario

Scenario Summary:

A multinational retail firm has experienced increased employee turnover at its new distribution sites after introducing an automated performance tracking system. The Vice President believes this system causes stress and discomfort, while the HR Director attributes the problem to inadequate leadership training for shift managers. Research findings show that turnover is lower where managers completed the Advanced Leadership Workshop, and that the tracking system has a stronger negative effect on retention when employees have longer tenure. The research team predicts that introducing the automated system will raise turnover rates. The study’s goal is to examine how different organizational factors influence employee retention and help frame new HR policies.

Assignment Solution:

Research Component	Identification	Justification
1. Dependent Variable	Employee Turnover (or Employee Retention)	This is the outcome that changes due to other factors. The study aims to measure how different variables (e.g., tracking system, leadership training) affect turnover, making it the dependent variable.
2. Independent Variable	Automated Performance Tracking System	The automated tracking system is intentionally implemented and expected to influence employee turnover. Since it is the primary cause being investigated, it functions as the independent variable.
3. Moderating Variable	Average Employee Tenure (Experience Level)	The results indicate that the impact of the performance system on turnover differs by employee experience. Sites with more experienced workers show a stronger negative effect, which makes tenure a moderating variable that influences the strength of the relationship.
4. Mediating Variable	Not Clearly Identified	The scenario does not specify any intermediate factor explaining how or why the tracking system affects turnover. Hence, no clear mediating variable is mentioned in the given case.
5. Research Classification (by Purpose)	Causal (Explanatory) Research	The study aims to determine whether the automated system causes higher turnover and how leadership training moderates this effect. Since it investigates cause-and-effect relationships, it is classified as causal research.

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