Prior to COVID19 pandemic, a topic of interest was the benefits of work/life balance to single mothers to help eliminate burnout. However, due to law makers and the government, we were forced into confinement and many organizations had to go remote, without prior notice or preparations. Now, the topic of interest is how employees are adjusting back to work on site post telework in COVID19 pandemic.
In survey research, as well as in most empirical work, researchers use operational definitions as opposed to general definitions whenever possible. A general definition is just that—general and non-specific—and usually descriptive only. Operational definitions imply measurement in that when you use operational definitions, you include the specific aspects of the term you are defining in a measureable context. For example, operational definitions must include information on how the construct/variable is measured and specific detail about actual definition; these definitions usually include empirical citations (e.g., “For the purpose of this study, satisfaction with life is operationally defined as a general subjective assessment of one’s subjective well-being using the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale [Diener et al., 1985]”).
Keeping operational definitions in mind, the Application for this week includes the essential first parts for your Research Topic Proposal that you will submit for Week 5 and that you identified in the Discussion. First, you will describe the problem/issue (include a problem sentence within the problem statement). Second, you will explain the purpose of the research study, related to the problem. Third, you will explain which specific testable theories (two are required) support your Survey Proposal of this research topic and drive your hypotheses. Fourth, you will state your specific hypotheses (2–3 are required). Finally, you will include operational definitions of all major concepts and constructs (citations required).
For the survey research topic you identified for this week’s Discussion:
Describe the research topic ( how employees are adjusting back to work on site post telework in COVID19 pandemic) and the problem/issue you plan to examine (include a problem statement).
Explain the purpose of the research study.
Explain which specific testable theories (two are required) support your Survey Proposal of this research topic and drive your hypotheses.
State your specific hypotheses (2–3 are required).
Include operational definitions of major concepts and constructs. Then explain the relationship between operational definitions and measurement in your research.
