In my current research, i am trying to figure out the relationship between job autonomy(independent variable )and happiness in workplace (dependent variable). while designing my questionnaire i add the control variables ( gender, age, health condition, marriage, income) in it. I am wondering, when consider adding control variables in the questionnaire , what is the "criteria" of a good control variable, and in what condition one variable should not consider as good control variable.
The issue of how to chose and use control variables is complex. Here are some papers that discuss it.
Becker, T. E. (2005). Potential problems in the statistical control of variables in organizational research: A qualitative analysis with recommendations. Organizational Research Methods, 8, 274-289.
Becker, T. E., Atinc, G., Breaugh, J. A., Carlson, K. D., Edwards, J. R., & Spector, P. E. (2015). Statistical control in correlational studies: 10 essential recommendations for organizational researchers. Journal of Organizational Behavior.
Bernerth, J. B., & Aguinis, H. (2016). A critical review and best-practice recommendations for control variable usage. Personnel Psychology, 69, 229-283.
Spector, P. E., & Brannick, M. T. (2011). Methodological urban legends: The misuse of statistical control variables. Organizational Research Methods, 14, 287-305.
1. During questionnaire development, no need to worry about control variables. Because all constructs are measured separately.
2. All variables which are significantly associated with both the job autonomy(independent variable )and happiness in workplace (dependent variable), may be included in the list of control variable. Get help from theories and previous empirical studies.
3. Apply ANOVA to decide whether or not to include control variable(s) in the your study.
Good Luck!
It's a complex question. On the other hand, we can teach or inspire how to get happiness or find its exist. Many people live in an extraordinarily happy environment and they forget what is happy due to everything is too easy to get.
To get a small group and ask them questions. If their background is different, you will soon discover the differences of happiness have background differences.
Therefore, in the past with finite resources, all of the researches are in a "closed system" that is hard to apply for the general public open system. In the closed system, usually, the researchers design according to the granters' requests or what's available and easier to get or understand by the researcher or his interest.
Or, if you have a big database storage and software to handle the data, you can collect a large database to do analysis. Then, you can do group by income, or gender or whatever to do analysis.
The factors that you listed, you miss some important factors such as "education", "culture", regional factor of living standard, etc.
Good Luck for Your Research!
Dear Frieda Mah ,
Thank you very much for your attention and answer
With Best Regards
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