A Researcher Was Interested in the Effects of 'Hard' and 'Soft

question 13

Multiple Choice

A researcher was interested in the effects of 'hard' and 'soft' human resource management practices on sales staff performance. Two similar sales teams from the same company were chosen, with one subjected to 'hard HRM' and the other to 'soft HRM'. At the end of the quarter their sales figures were noted. The SPSS output is below. The experimenter made no predictions about which form of HRM would produce the best sales performance. What should he report?

• A) Staff working under soft HRM sold significantly more than staff working under hard HRM, t(38) = 2.05, p < .05
• B) Sales for staff working under soft HRM did not significantly differ from those for staff working under hard HRM, t(38) = 2.05, ns
• C) Staff working under soft HRM sold significantly more than staff working under hard HRM, t(23.12) = 2.05, p < .05, 1-tailed
• D) Sales for staff working under soft HRM did not significantly differ from those for staff working under hard HRM, t(23.12) = 2.05, ns.

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Definitions:

X-Y-Z Statement

A communication tool that describes a situation (X), the impact of that situation (Y), and the feelings or needs of the speaker (Z).

Tease

To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful or mocking way.

Acknowledging Anger

Recognizing and validating someone's feeling of anger as a legitimate emotion.

Venting

The act of releasing strong emotions or frustrations through talking or expressive behavior.