Question

Consider the variables of job satisfaction and perceived job security. It seems logical that these go hand in hand; it would make sense for them to be connected in some way. Suppose that a study was conducted on these variables, and the correlation coefficient was found to be .61 (r = .61). Develop a main response in which you address the following:

• Explain what a Pearson's r value of .61 would imply about the relationship for these variables (strength and direction).
• Discuss what other factors could be involved in this relationship and how they could contribute to it.

Answer 1

Pearson correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of linear relationship between 2 continuous variables.

Strength of relationship means how close the relationship is to being a perfectly straight line.
The direction of a relationship means whether the relationship is increasing or decreasing.

r = 0.61 means the strength is moderate and the direction is positive. Therefore, the job satisfaction and perceived job security have a moderate linear relationship and the relationship is positive meaning that when the perceived job security increases, the job satisfaction also increases.

Other factors that could be involved in this relationship may include payscale, working hours, average promotion time, work culture etc. Increasing payscale, reasonable working hours, fair promotion time in the job, healthy work culture may also be positively correlated with job satisfaction apart from perceived job security.