Data, Variables and Hypotheses Essay

Introduction

The research article under consideration for analysis is by Bacharach & Bamberger (2007). The article is titled “9/11 and New York City firefighters’ post hoc unit support and control climates: A context theory of the consequences of involvement in traumatic work-related events.” This paper provides a critical analysis of the research problem through identification and summary of the findings and its implications to management practice. It will also characterize the variables as well as define, analyze and summarize the hypotheses.

Article Summary

The article by Bacharach & Bamberger (2007) provides a contextual theory based on the consequences of being involved in work-related events that are highly traumatic. The model that the article seeks to develop pinpoints differences in individual stressor-strain relationships over the work environments and argues that such differences are attributed to the control climates and current support that vary over different work environments. The findings of the article show that the relationship between subsequent stress and anxiety and involvement in a critical incident is mediated by posttraumatic distress with the mediated relationship conditioned by post incident unit level factors. The findings also show that employee control climate plays a minimal role in linking posttraumatic event distress to negative emotional states but supervisory support plays a significant role.

The research demonstrates that the experiences of individuals as they cope with traumatic workplace experiences are influenced by the climate of the workplace where the person was involved in the incident. They are also influenced by the climate of the work environment, that is, the post-incident work environment in which the person tries to develop coping mechanisms even as the individual comes to terms with the occurrence of the critical incident. The implications of the research for policy makers and management are substantive. The findings can improve the emotional well-being of the affected individuals discussed in the research through setting policies and procedures that enhance control work climate and support at the individual and group level.

The article makes use of in-depth analysis of variables although the level of linking them and simplifying the research are minimal. Further, the purpose of the model created does not have clear analysis at the conclusion. However, the article manifests good use of analysis approach with the inclusion of limitations and provision of grounds for further research (Miller, Cardinal & Glick, 1997). Although the negative emotional responses are identified as the dependent variables, the article emphasizes more on the issue of work related support. Further, the article dismisses depression from the study though more research shows that there is a significant link between depression and stress (Kenny, 2006). The use of control variables as the existence of stress and anxiety prior to the occurrence of the critical incident in this research limits its objectivity and application since the controlled variables are evident in day-to-day occurrences and their effect cannot be undermined.

Characterization of Variables

The characterization of variables in a given research problem revolves around establishing the measurement levels, analysis levels and eventual definition and classification of the variables used (John, 2006). The article under consideration makes use of hypotheses and a sample from fire fighters of New York City from whom the analyzed data is collected. The measurement of variables is done at the individual level except for control climate and current support whose aggregation is done at the unit level. The analysis made use of a confirmatory factor analysis of the endogenous variables. The hypotheses were tested using the multilevel approach and hierarchal linear modeling (HLM) at the individual level which was a challenge as asserted by Kenny (2006). The moderating variables whose examination and assessment was at the unit level were analyzed using the SAS Proc mixed that was fitted to HLM to reveal the significance of group level and individual variances. The dependent variables were identified as depression, stress and anxiety, while the independent variables were the intensity of involvement in the 9/11 incidence and critical incidence inventory. The moderating variables used were current supervisory control climate and current unit control climate. Additionally, the control variables were used to concentrate on the 9/11 incident.

Defining the research problem and context

Summary of the variable analysis

Summary of Hypotheses

• Intensity of critical incident involvement is positively correlated with anxiety, mediated by post traumatic distress
• Intensity of critical incident involvement is positively correlated with stress, mediated by post traumatic distress.
• Intensity of critical incident involvement is positively correlated with anxiety, moderated by unit level supervisory and employee control climate.
• Intensity of critical incident involvement is positively correlated with stress, moderated by unit level supervisory and employee control climate.
• Post traumatic distress is positively correlated with stress, moderated by control climate.
• Post traumatic distress is positively correlated with anxiety, moderated by control climate.

Conclusion

The research article under consideration follows credible guidelines for research through in-depth analysis as well as provision of applicable implications for management. However, the assumptions of the negative emotional states, the use of control variables to base judgments and the use of multilevel approach pose a challenge to the research. The display and review of the limitations to the study provides a good basis for future research. This paper has provided a critical analysis of the research article by reviewing and characterizing the variables. Further, it has summarized the hypotheses of the study to show the correlations between the variables tested in the research.

Reference List

1. Bacharach, S., & Bamberger, P. (2007). 9/11 and New York City firefighters’ post hoc unit support and control climates: A context theory of the consequences of involvement in traumatic work-related events. The Academy of Management Journal, 50(4), 849-868.
2. John, G. (2006). The essential impact of context on organizational behavior. Academy of Management Review, 31, 396–408.
3. Kenny, D. A. (2006). Mediation. Web.
4. Miller, C., Cardinal, B., & Glick, H. (1997). Retrospective reports in organizational research: A reexamination of recent evidence. Academy of Management Journal, 40, 189–204.