Practise noise, temperature, lighting and office layout effects, applying Oldham and Brass evidence and planning ethical experiments with measurable productivity.
Describe how data was collected in one study about the impact of the design of the work environment on people who work in open plan offices (e.g. Oldham and Brass, 1979).
open plan offices (e.g. Oldham and Brass, 1979).
Syllabus: 4.4.1 impact of the design of the work environment focusing on open plan offices, including a study, e.g. Oldham and Brass (1979).
Marks: Award 2 marks for a detailed description. Award 1 mark for a partial description.
Answers may include (other appropriate responses to be credited):
- a longitudinal study taking measures over time (1 mark) which could be baseline (pre-move), one week after move, six weeks after move ( 2 marks).
- closed questionnaires with a 7-point scale (1 mark) to assess differences in autonomy, skills variety or any other job characteristic (2 marks)
- participants were interviewed. Employees described the new office space as a 'fishbowl,' 'cage,' or 'warehouse', reflecting on an inability to concentrate, to develop close friendships, and to complete a job. It was impossible in the open office to engage in a private conversation either with co-workers or with supervisors.
Explain one strength and one weakness of the way that data was collected in the study you described in part (a).
Explain one strength and one weakness with the way that data was collected in the study you described in part (a).
Marks: Up to 2 marks for each strength and up to 2 marks for each weakness.
Award 2 marks for an appropriate strength/weakness stated and applied as required by the question with detail / elaboration / example.
Award 1 mark for an appropriate strength/weakness stated but not applied.
Answers may include (other appropriate responses to be credited):
Strengths:
- the same participants might be measured over time (1 mark) measures can be taken in the same participants before the office move, just after the move and again after a longer period of time (2 marks)
- the same measures could be repeated with the same participants which makes the study reliable. (1 mark)
Weaknesses:
- participants may begin the study but drop out (1 mark) a worker might be measured before the move, but leave the company before the other two measures can be taken because they don't like open-plan offices ( 2 marks)
- once the study has started changes to the design cannot be made (1 mark) so if a new variable appears after the move it cannot be included as no baseline was taken before the move ( 2 marks)