Survey data analysis
February 2, 2017
Aim
In view of the deep implications of conflict for both organizations and personnel functioning, effectiveness, and efficiency, the management of conflict is critical and paramount in managerial roles. Whether perceived positively or negatively, and in order to reap positive rather than negative outcomes, conflict has to be managed vigorously and appropriately.
The Aim of the current study is to seek and look more critically at widely-held preconceptions regarding workplace behavior and managerial conflict handling styles in the workplace specifically with respect to gender preferential styles (if any).
Investigating the verbal conduct of male and female managers in handling conflict among subordinates may expose as untenable some of the clichéd beliefs relating to their respective (in)effectiveness in conflict, may help redress the portrayal of managers with regard to verbal enactment of power and managerial roles, impede the perpetuation of taken-for-granted preconceptions and their ensuing blocking effects for certain managers, help certain managers realize their full potential, and benefit both managers and organizations.
Methods
Proportions of individuals who answered with “Agree” and “Strongly agree” were classified as High while individuals who replied with “Disagree” and “Strongly disagree” were classified as Low.
Independent t-test was used to assess the differences in the mean scores between males and females as this is a widely used technique in survey data analysis.
Moreover, bar charts were used to visualize responses across males and females. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Hypotheses
Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference between males and females managers in handling conflicts among subordinates.
ALternative hypothesis: There is a significant difference between males and females managers in handling conflicts among subordinates.
Results and Plots
Males
The follwing table shows the means, standard deviations and the proportions of individuals classified ad low, High or Not Sure for each of the questions.
First 10 Questions
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | I try to integrate my ideas with those of my subordinates to come up with a decision jointly | 22.85714 | 5.714286 | 71.42857 | 3.971429 | 1.224402 |
| 3 | I use “give and take” so that a compromise can be made | 34.28571 | 0.000000 | 65.71429 | 3.485714 | 1.482673 |
| 6 | I use my influence to get my ideas accepted and impose a solution | 34.28571 | 2.857143 | 62.85714 | 3.485714 | 1.669298 |
| 5 | I usually avoid open discussion of the causes of conflict with my subordinates | 34.37500 | 3.125000 | 62.50000 | 3.312500 | 1.595103 |
| 8 | I use confrontational strategies in handling conflict | 40.00000 | 2.857143 | 57.14286 | 3.257143 | 1.668794 |
| 1 | I generally try to accommodate to the needs of my subordinates.. | 37.14286 | 8.571429 | 54.28571 | 3.371429 | 1.262251 |
| 7 | I use conciliatory strategies in handling conflict | 42.85714 | 2.857143 | 54.28571 | 3.257143 | 1.720856 |
| 4 | I try to find a middle course to resolve an impasse | 40.00000 | 5.714286 | 54.28571 | 3.285714 | 1.486635 |
| 10 | I use my authority to control the topics of exchange and confine the content of the interaction with my subordinates to what I deem appropriate | 40.00000 | 22.857143 | 37.14286 | 3.000000 | 1.393261 |
| 9 | I use my authority to make a decision/ imposes a solution by silencing may subordinates | 45.71429 | 20.000000 | 34.28571 | 2.914286 | 1.268891 |
Questions 11 - 20
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | I try to soften/ hedge my words in order to avoid hard feelings | 17.14286 | 5.714286 | 77.14286 | 4.085714 | 1.121224 |
| 10 | I listen carefully to my subordinates versions and proposals | 20.00000 | 11.428571 | 68.57143 | 3.685714 | 1.323352 |
| 8 | I use diversion by trying to move the discussion to another issue | 42.85714 | 0.000000 | 57.14286 | 3.314286 | 1.470723 |
| 7 | I use ambiguous speech to avoid straightforwardly siding with any party. | 28.57143 | 17.142857 | 54.28571 | 3.342857 | 1.304807 |
| 2 | I provide prompt summary or the gist of the situation at hand in the process of finding a solution. | 34.28571 | 20.000000 | 45.71429 | 3.171429 | 1.360919 |
| 6 | I suspend the meeting to avoid an escalation of the conflict. | 45.71429 | 8.571429 | 45.71429 | 3.171429 | 1.464998 |
| 5 | I interrupt my subordinates speech/ turns to put an end to the conflict | 48.48485 | 9.090909 | 42.42424 | 2.909091 | 1.588310 |
| 1 | I firmly require explicit answers from my subordinates and do not accept ambiguous answer(s | 42.85714 | 17.142857 | 40.00000 | 3.142857 | 1.437785 |
| 4 | I silence conflictual parties and impose my ideas | 60.00000 | 5.714286 | 34.28571 | 2.657143 | 1.413025 |
| 3 | I try to stay away from disagreement with my subordinates. | 62.85714 | 5.714286 | 31.42857 | 2.600000 | 1.459250 |
Questions 21 - 30
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | I answer all my subordinates questions | 42.85714 | 2.857143 | 54.28571 | 3.257143 | 1.615055 |
| 10 | I frequently use the pronoun “I” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 37.14286 | 8.571429 | 54.28571 | 3.342857 | 1.551903 |
| 5 | I use humor to introduce levity into the situation | 45.71429 | 2.857143 | 51.42857 | 3.114286 | 1.430167 |
| 6 | I use humor to ridicule one of the conflictual parties or their points of view | 42.85714 | 5.714286 | 51.42857 | 3.314286 | 1.450587 |
| 4 | I use apologies or justifications to past/ current actions or speech admitted to be harmful | 31.42857 | 20.000000 | 48.57143 | 3.314286 | 1.300937 |
| 1 | I listen to my subordinates versions and proposals and give them supportive feedback (saying yes, great…) | 37.14286 | 17.142857 | 45.71429 | 3.314286 | 1.470723 |
| 9 | I use propaganda (only one/ my view is reasonable and possible) | 40.00000 | 20.000000 | 40.00000 | 2.857143 | 1.574481 |
| 8 | I ignore my subordinates questions | 60.00000 | 14.285714 | 25.71429 | 2.657143 | 1.349136 |
| 3 | I urge conflictual parties or any colleague whom I do not agree with to quit the meeting | 65.71429 | 11.428571 | 22.85714 | 2.171429 | 1.339133 |
| 2 | I quit the meeting | 68.57143 | 11.428571 | 20.00000 | 2.171429 | 1.124218 |
Questions 31 - 40
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | I phrase my interventions using direct constructions to be right to the point (I prefer, I personally endorse..) | 20.00000 | 17.142857 | 62.85714 | 3.514286 | 1.245496 |
| 5 | I try to be brief in my interventions | 16.12903 | 29.032258 | 54.83871 | 3.580645 | 1.258946 |
| 1 | I frequently use the pronoun “I” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 37.14286 | 8.571429 | 54.28571 | 3.342857 | 1.551903 |
| 7 | I use indirect constructions to avoid putting the blame on anyone straightforwardly (It is better to ) | 25.71429 | 20.000000 | 54.28571 | 3.457143 | 1.291211 |
| 8 | I use indirect constructions to avoid being disapproved by my subordinates | 37.50000 | 12.500000 | 50.00000 | 3.093750 | 1.467044 |
| 9 | I give direct commands to my subordinates | 48.48485 | 3.030303 | 48.48485 | 3.000000 | 1.695582 |
| 2 | I use the pronoun “we” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 54.28571 | 8.571429 | 37.14286 | 2.857143 | 1.497898 |
| 10 | I soften my commands and make more tactful requests to my subordinates | 62.85714 | 0.000000 | 37.14286 | 2.571429 | 1.378100 |
| 4 | I dominate speaking time | 68.57143 | 8.571429 | 22.85714 | 2.428571 | 1.289909 |
| 3 | I use bolstering and self-promotion to resolve the conflict as I deem convenient | 82.85714 | 0.000000 | 17.14286 | 2.142857 | 1.331581 |
Females
Questions 1 - 10
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | I try to integrate my ideas with those of my subordinates to come up with a decision jointly | 22.85714 | 5.714286 | 71.42857 | 4.028571 | 1.248192 |
| 3 | I use “give and take” so that a compromise can be made | 34.28571 | 0.000000 | 65.71429 | 3.485714 | 1.482673 |
| 5 | I usually avoid open discussion of the causes of conflict with my subordinates | 34.37500 | 3.125000 | 62.50000 | 3.406250 | 1.542084 |
| 1 | I generally try to accommodate to the needs of my subordinates.. | 37.14286 | 5.714286 | 57.14286 | 3.371429 | 1.238731 |
| 6 | I use my influence to get my ideas accepted and impose a solution | 34.28571 | 8.571429 | 57.14286 | 3.371429 | 1.628527 |
| 4 | I try to find a middle course to resolve an impasse | 40.00000 | 5.714286 | 54.28571 | 3.314286 | 1.510190 |
| 7 | I use conciliatory strategies in handling conflict | 42.85714 | 2.857143 | 54.28571 | 3.285714 | 1.741727 |
| 8 | I use confrontational strategies in handling conflict | 42.85714 | 2.857143 | 54.28571 | 3.171429 | 1.653618 |
| 10 | I use my authority to control the topics of exchange and confine the content of the interaction with my subordinates to what I deem appropriate | 40.00000 | 25.714286 | 34.28571 | 2.971429 | 1.382362 |
| 9 | I use my authority to make a decision/ imposes a solution by silencing may subordinates | 45.71429 | 22.857143 | 31.42857 | 2.857143 | 1.216138 |
Questions 11 - 20
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | I try to soften/ hedge my words in order to avoid hard feelings | 20.00000 | 5.714286 | 74.28571 | 3.971429 | 1.150082 |
| 10 | I listen carefully to my subordinates versions and proposals | 20.00000 | 11.428571 | 68.57143 | 3.714286 | 1.341014 |
| 8 | I use diversion by trying to move the discussion to another issue | 42.85714 | 0.000000 | 57.14286 | 3.285714 | 1.506289 |
| 7 | I use ambiguous speech to avoid straightforwardly siding with any party. | 25.71429 | 20.000000 | 54.28571 | 3.342857 | 1.327157 |
| 2 | I provide prompt summary or the gist of the situation at hand in the process of finding a solution. | 34.28571 | 20.000000 | 45.71429 | 3.171429 | 1.360919 |
| 6 | I suspend the meeting to avoid an escalation of the conflict. | 42.85714 | 11.428571 | 45.71429 | 3.257143 | 1.441871 |
| 5 | I interrupt my subordinates speech/ turns to put an end to the conflict | 45.45455 | 12.121212 | 42.42424 | 3.000000 | 1.581139 |
| 1 | I firmly require explicit answers from my subordinates and do not accept ambiguous answer(s | 45.71429 | 17.142857 | 37.14286 | 3.085714 | 1.379928 |
| 4 | I silence conflictual parties and impose my ideas | 54.28571 | 11.428571 | 34.28571 | 2.771429 | 1.415995 |
| 3 | I try to stay away from disagreement with my subordinates. | 60.00000 | 11.428571 | 28.57143 | 2.600000 | 1.376270 |
Questions 21 -30
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | I answer all my subordinates questions | 42.85714 | 2.857143 | 54.28571 | 3.257143 | 1.559465 |
| 10 | I frequently use the pronoun “I” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 37.14286 | 8.571429 | 54.28571 | 3.342857 | 1.551903 |
| 1 | I listen to my subordinates versions and proposals and give them supportive feedback (saying yes, great…) | 37.14286 | 17.142857 | 45.71429 | 3.342857 | 1.493966 |
| 4 | I use apologies or justifications to past/ current actions or speech admitted to be harmful | 28.57143 | 25.714286 | 45.71429 | 3.314286 | 1.207122 |
| 5 | I use humor to introduce levity into the situation | 51.42857 | 2.857143 | 45.71429 | 3.028571 | 1.403477 |
| 6 | I use humor to ridicule one of the conflictual parties or their points of view | 42.85714 | 11.428571 | 45.71429 | 3.257143 | 1.441871 |
| 9 | I use propaganda (only one/ my view is reasonable and possible) | 34.28571 | 25.714286 | 40.00000 | 2.942857 | 1.474147 |
| 8 | I ignore my subordinates questions | 57.14286 | 17.142857 | 25.71429 | 2.714286 | 1.318899 |
| 3 | I urge conflictual parties or any colleague whom I do not agree with to quit the meeting | 64.70588 | 17.647059 | 17.64706 | 2.117647 | 1.225109 |
| 2 | I quit the meeting | 65.71429 | 20.000000 | 14.28571 | 2.171429 | 1.042782 |
Questions 31 - 40
| Item | low | neutral | high | mean | sd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | I phrase my interventions using direct constructions to be right to the point (I prefer, I personally endorse..) | 20.00000 | 22.857143 | 57.14286 | 3.485714 | 1.268891 |
| 4 | I try to be brief in my interventions | 16.12903 | 32.258065 | 51.61290 | 3.548387 | 1.260654 |
| 6 | I use indirect constructions to avoid putting the blame on anyone straightforwardly (It is better to ) | 22.85714 | 28.571429 | 48.57143 | 3.342857 | 1.186762 |
| 10 | I soften criticism to save my subordinates faces | 40.00000 | 11.428571 | 48.57143 | 3.342857 | 1.454058 |
| 8 | I give direct commands to my subordinates | 48.48485 | 6.060606 | 45.45455 | 2.878788 | 1.653738 |
| 7 | I use indirect constructions to avoid being disapproved by my subordinates | 38.23529 | 23.529412 | 38.23529 | 2.911765 | 1.334113 |
| 1 | I use the pronoun “we” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 57.14286 | 8.571429 | 34.28571 | 2.800000 | 1.491150 |
| 9 | I soften my commands and make more tactful requests to my subordinates | 62.85714 | 2.857143 | 34.28571 | 2.514286 | 1.314432 |
| 3 | I dominate speaking time | 71.42857 | 8.571429 | 20.00000 | 2.400000 | 1.310590 |
| 2 | I use bolstering and self-promotion to resolve the conflict as I deem convenient | 82.85714 | 0.000000 | 17.14286 | 2.142857 | 1.331581 |
Comparison
| Means in Males | Means in Females | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I generally try to accommodate to the needs of my subordinates.. | 3.371429 | 3.371429 | 1.0000000 |
| I try to integrate my ideas with those of my subordinates to come up with a decision jointly | 3.971429 | 4.028571 | 0.8472636 |
| I use “give and take” so that a compromise can be made | 3.485714 | 3.485714 | 1.0000000 |
| I try to find a middle course to resolve an impasse | 3.285714 | 3.314286 | 0.9366594 |
| I usually avoid open discussion of the causes of conflict with my subordinates | 3.312500 | 3.406250 | 0.8118689 |
| I use my influence to get my ideas accepted and impose a solution | 3.485714 | 3.371429 | 0.7727592 |
| I use conciliatory strategies in handling conflict | 3.257143 | 3.285714 | 0.9451639 |
| I use confrontational strategies in handling conflict | 3.257143 | 3.171429 | 0.8297539 |
| I use my authority to make a decision/ imposes a solution by silencing may subordinates | 2.914286 | 2.857143 | 0.8480460 |
| I use my authority to control the topics of exchange and confine the content of the interaction with my subordinates to what I deem appropriate | 3.000000 | 2.971429 | 0.9316221 |
| I firmly require explicit answers from my subordinates and do not accept ambiguous answer(s | 3.142857 | 3.085714 | 0.8657995 |
| I provide prompt summary or the gist of the situation at hand in the process of finding a solution. | 3.171429 | 3.171429 | 1.0000000 |
| I try to stay away from disagreement with my subordinates. | 2.600000 | 2.600000 | 1.0000000 |
| I silence conflictual parties and impose my ideas | 2.657143 | 2.771429 | 0.7364115 |
| I interrupt my subordinates speech/ turns to put an end to the conflict | 2.909091 | 3.000000 | 0.8164890 |
| I suspend the meeting to avoid an escalation of the conflict. | 3.171429 | 3.257143 | 0.8058865 |
| I use ambiguous speech to avoid straightforwardly siding with any party. | 3.342857 | 3.342857 | 1.0000000 |
| I use diversion by trying to move the discussion to another issue | 3.314286 | 3.285714 | 0.9362414 |
| I try to soften/ hedge my words in order to avoid hard feelings | 4.085714 | 3.971429 | 0.6751201 |
| I listen carefully to my subordinates versions and proposals | 3.685714 | 3.714286 | 0.9287754 |
| I listen to my subordinates versions and proposals and give them supportive feedback (saying yes, great…) | 3.314286 | 3.342857 | 0.9359743 |
| I quit the meeting | 2.171429 | 2.171429 | 1.0000000 |
| I urge conflictual parties or any colleague whom I do not agree with to quit the meeting | 2.171429 | 2.117647 | 0.8622808 |
| I use apologies or justifications to past/ current actions or speech admitted to be harmful | 3.314286 | 3.314286 | 1.0000000 |
| I use humor to introduce levity into the situation | 3.114286 | 3.028571 | 0.8009793 |
| I use humor to ridicule one of the conflictual parties or their points of view | 3.314286 | 3.257143 | 0.8692075 |
| I answer all my subordinates questions | 3.257143 | 3.257143 | 1.0000000 |
| I ignore my subordinates questions | 2.657143 | 2.714286 | 0.8583288 |
| I use propaganda (only one/ my view is reasonable and possible) | 2.857143 | 2.942857 | 0.8148365 |
| I frequently use the pronoun “I” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 3.342857 | 3.342857 | 1.0000000 |
| I use the pronoun “we” when announcing decisions/ actions I intend to take concerning the conflict at hand | 2.857143 | 2.800000 | 0.8733968 |
| I use bolstering and self-promotion to resolve the conflict as I deem convenient | 2.142857 | 2.142857 | 1.0000000 |
| I dominate speaking time | 2.428571 | 2.400000 | 0.9270319 |
| I try to be brief in my interventions | 3.580645 | 3.548387 | 0.9200376 |
| I phrase my interventions using direct constructions to be right to the point (I prefer, I personally endorse..) | 3.514286 | 3.485714 | 0.9245413 |
| I use indirect constructions to avoid putting the blame on anyone straightforwardly (It is better to ) | 3.457143 | 3.342857 | 0.7010562 |
| I use indirect constructions to avoid being disapproved by my subordinates | 3.093750 | 2.911765 | 0.6006040 |
| I give direct commands to my subordinates | 3.000000 | 2.878788 | 0.7697201 |
| I soften my commands and make more tactful requests to my subordinates | 2.571429 | 2.514286 | 0.8596348 |
| I soften criticism to save my subordinates faces | 3.285714 | 3.342857 | 0.8677254 |
Results show that mean responses across males and females did not differ significantly which is illustrated by p values greater than 0.05 for all questiontions (1 - 40).
Questions
Density plots show that both curves coincide with each other which indicates thet responses are comparable. This shows that gender did not affect how managers handle conflicts.