Research Methods in Human Resource Management

Investigating a Business Issue

Valerie Anderson, Rita Fontinha, Fiona Robson

• Publisher: CIPD - Kogan Page
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780749483883
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Betriebswirtschaft
• Subtopic: Personalmanagement

Research Methods in Human Resource Management is a key resource for anyone undertaking a research report or dissertation. It covers the planning and execution of HRM research projects, from investigating and researching HR issues to designing and implementing research and then evaluating and reviewing the results. Filled with international examples to provide a global perspective, this fully updated 4th edition of Research Methods in Human Resource Management balances theoretical frameworks and practical guidance. Fully updated throughout, this edition now includes increased discussion of methodological issues, more real-life examples and international case studies and best practice sample literature reviews and write-ups. 'Review and Reflect' sections at the end of each chapter help to consolidate learning and explain how it can aid professional development. This book is fully mapped to the CIPD Level 7 Advanced module on Investigating a Business Issue from an HR Perspective, and multiple-choice questions and a glossary of terms help students understand the key concepts and use the terminology confidently. Online supporting resources for lecturers include an instructor's manual and lecture slides and there are annotated web links, further reading and new reflective questions for students.

09

Collecting and recording quantitative data

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This chapter should help you to:

• consider how quantitative data can contribute to your research;
• discuss different sources of numerical data;
• design and evaluate an effective survey instrument;
• administer a survey to an appropriate sample of respondents;
• collect, organise and store quantitative data in an effective way;
• describe and present a summary of data you have collected.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

• How to use this chapter
• The uses of quantitative data in HR research
• Where does quantitative data come from?
• Undertaking your own survey
• The internet and quantitative data collection
• Administering surveys and evaluating responses
• Collecting, organising and presenting quantitative data
• Summary checklist
• Test yourself, review and reflect questions
• Useful resources

How to use this chapter

It would be almost impossible to investigate an HR problem or issue without the use of some numerical data. This chapter aims to give you some ideas about where to look for quantitative data, how to evaluate the extent to which numerical information will help you to address your research questions and how to collect quantitative data. The focus of the chapter is on gathering, presenting and describing data; Chapter 10 will help you to analyse and interpret your data in order to formulate meaningful conclusions. This chapter does not require you to become an expert in statistical techniques or specialised software programs.

Activity 9.1

Making sense of the numbers

Visit the survey reports page of the CIPD website and examine either: a Labour Market Outlook survey (https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/work/trends/labour-market-outlook); and other recent reports, such as the Reward Management Survey (https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/strategy/reward/surveys) or the Megatrends: Flexible Working Report (https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/work/trends/megatrends/flexible-working) that you will find there. For this activity you do not need to read the findings carefully – skim-read the report and answer the following questions.

Discussion questions

1. What information does the report provide? What does it not tell you?
2. What information would you need in order to evaluate the trustworthiness of the data on which the report is based?

Feedback notes

Depending on the report you have chosen you may feel either very interested by the information it contains or you may feel that it is not immediately relevant to your concerns in relation to your work and/or your research. These reports contain a lot of charts in various formats. Depending on your background and learning style you may find these helpful or you may find numerical and statistical data of this sort to be boring or somewhat alienating. Nonetheless, these reports contain useful information about general trends in employment, labour markets and the development of HR. The figures and charts that are provided offer a useful description of some trends relating to employment and HR. The figures and charts present in these reports nor...