HR Research & Evidence-Based Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In HR research, what is the primary purpose of a literature review before conducting a study?
- To identify what is already known and avoid duplicating prior research (Correct answer)
- To satisfy regulatory requirements for HR data collection
- To obtain statistical parameters for the upcoming analysis
- To recruit participants from previously studied organizations
Correct answer: To identify what is already known and avoid duplicating prior research
A literature review synthesizes existing knowledge to identify gaps, inform research design, and prevent redundant work.
Question 2: A tech company's HR team wants to study why software engineers leave within their first year. Which mixed-methods approach would yield the most comprehensive insights?
- Conduct only exit interviews to get detailed stories
- Analyze only HRIS turnover data for statistical patterns
- Combine quantitative HRIS data analysis with qualitative exit interviews (Correct answer)
- Survey current employees about their hypothetical reasons for leaving
Correct answer: Combine quantitative HRIS data analysis with qualitative exit interviews
Mixed methods combine statistical patterns from quantitative data with the depth and context provided by qualitative interviews for richer insights.
Question 3: Which type of validity assesses whether a pre-employment coding assessment predicts future job performance?
- Face validity
- Construct validity
- Content validity
- Predictive validity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Predictive validity
Predictive validity measures the degree to which assessment scores correlate with future job performance outcomes.
Question 4: An HR analyst notices that attrition doubled after a major HRIS implementation. Before concluding the system caused the increase, what should be investigated first?
- Whether the HRIS vendor offered a satisfaction guarantee
- Whether other organizational changes occurred simultaneously that could explain the increase (Correct answer)
- Whether the HRIS was implemented on schedule
- Whether employees were trained on the new system before rollout
Correct answer: Whether other organizational changes occurred simultaneously that could explain the increase
Establishing causation requires ruling out alternative explanations, including concurrent events such as layoffs, restructuring, or market conditions.
Question 5: When an HR team applies Bayesian reasoning to workforce planning, what does 'updating a prior belief' mean?
- Replacing outdated performance metrics with newer ones
- Revising probability estimates about workforce outcomes as new data becomes available (Correct answer)
- Discarding historical data to avoid recency bias
- Applying last year's headcount model to the current year
Correct answer: Revising probability estimates about workforce outcomes as new data becomes available
Bayesian reasoning involves starting with a prior probability estimate and systematically updating it as new evidence is gathered.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'replication' in the context of HR research?
- Copying another company's HR strategy exactly
- Repeating a study to verify that original findings hold across different samples or conditions (Correct answer)
- Collecting duplicate data entries to check for data entry errors
- Reusing the same survey instrument across multiple years
Correct answer: Repeating a study to verify that original findings hold across different samples or conditions
Replication involves independently repeating a study to confirm that its findings are reliable and not artifacts of the original sample or conditions.
Question 7: An HR software vendor claims their engagement tool improves retention by 30% based on customer testimonials. A critical evidence-based practitioner should:
- Accept the claim and begin procurement immediately
- Request access to peer-reviewed studies or independently audited data supporting the claim (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the claim entirely since vendors are always biased
- Survey internal employees to see if they believe the tool would help
Correct answer: Request access to peer-reviewed studies or independently audited data supporting the claim
Evidence-based practice requires scrutinizing the quality and source of evidence; testimonials are susceptible to selection bias and lack scientific controls.
HR Research & Evidence-Based Practice 5
In HR research, what is the primary purpose of a literature review before conducting a study?