Organizational Design, Diagnosis, and Development Session 12 Organizational Diagnosis, II Techniques of Data Collection

Objectives To review the general research process To describe research methods To examine techniques of data collection with a focus on interviews and surveys

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF OD RESEARCH Purpose and focus Initial immersion Choice of research method –observation –field study –field experiment

PRINCIPLES CONT. Entry into the organization Development of data gathering techniques Processing and interpreting data

MODES OF DATA COLLECTION Interviews –personal –telephone Surveys and questionnaires Observations Archival records

ASKING QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY Question content Question wording –terminology –structure –express all alternative –avoid assumptions –response categories –filters

ASKING QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY CONT. Question sequence –overall sequence –funnel techniques

INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES Type of interview Sampling Creating the atmosphere Asking the question Obtaining the response Avoiding bias Sensitive areas Other interview formats

An Example of the Funnel Technique How frequently do you think others cheat on exams? Do you approve or disapprove? Do you personally know others who have cheated? Have you cheated?

Sources for Surveys Cook, J., Hepworth, S. Wall, T. & Wair, P. (1981). Experience of work: A compendium and review of 249 measures and their use. New York: Academic Press. Price,J. & Mueller, C. (1986). Handbook of organizational measurement. Marshfield, MA: Pitman Rousseau, D. (1990). Assessing organizational culture: The case for multiple methods. In B. Schneider (Ed.). Climate and culture (pp ). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

SURVEYS Survey development –content area –question writing –expert analysis –pretest and revision –sampling –limitations

OBSERVATIONS Casual Systematic Participant observation Limitations –onstage effects –reactive effects –investigator effects

ARCHIVAL RECORDS Where and what to get Monitor policy changes Environmental issues Education and labor statistics Sports salaries limitations

QUALITATIVE TOOLS Content analysis –For analysis of media and open ended questions –Setting up the coding categories –Train coders –Analyze data –Limitations

Backwards & Forwards Summing up: Today’s session involved an examination of research methods and techniques of collecting data. Special emphasis was given to interviews and surveys, the two techniques used most frequently in organizational diagnosis. Other techniques were also considered Looking ahead: Next time we turn to survey feedback and the design of interventions