Metrics and Measurement –IE 5342 Project

Work Sampling:

The Work Sampling System is an authentic performance-based assessment tool. Work Sampling is designed to help a person evaluate the key time spent on individual work thereby documenting and evaluating a person’s skills, knowledge, behaviors and accomplishments across a wide variety of curriculum areas on multiple occasions in order to enhance time management and to keep track of each person’s individual achievement.

Objectives:

Personal:

I personally opted for the 5 categories Study, Work, Gym, Music and Cooking because these categories made up my daily errands and I wanted personally see that how each week day is spent on each category and how time can be well managed for the days to come for optimal usage of every Week Day.

Categories:

Study, Work, Gym, Music, Cooking

A study of the above categories was recorded throughout a week with help of a Random Time Generator. I generated the random time from the website www.random.org.

Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday   Friday  

Time Work done Time

Work done Time

Work done Time

Work done Time

Work done

8.00 am Study 8.00 am Study 8.00 am Study 8.00 am Work 8.00 am work

9.00 am Work 8.45 am Gym 11.20 am Gym 12.05pm Cook11.30 am Study

3.00pm Gym 9.13am Work 12.30 pm work 1.00pm Study 1.39 pm Work

4.15pm Work 1.15pm Music 4.45pm Cook 6.35pm cook 4.00pm Gym

5.00pm Study 1.40 pm Cook 5.30pm Study 9.00pm Music 6.25 pm Cook

10.00pm Music 2.15pm Work 8.30pm Cook 10.00pm Cook 8.45pm Study

11.00pm Cook 11.00 pm Study 11.00pm Music 11.00pm Music 11.00pm cook

Observations:

The number of observations taken = 35

I took 35 observations, because the 5 categories repeated for my every week day which constituted the major consumption of time and I wanted to optimize the usage of time in a more effective method thereby increasing my efficiency of work for the further consecutive weeks to come.

I generated the random time using the www.random.org

I used my cell phone which prompted me reminder whenever required. Added addition to my cell phone I did use my IPod also for double reminder.

Advancement in technology led me use my IPhone where I recorded my observations on my Notepad.

Calculations

Observations:

No. of occurrence for Study category = 9

No. of occurrence for Work category = 8

No. of occurrence for Gym category = 4

No. of occurrence for Music category = 5

No. of occurrence for Cook category = 9

Total No. of Observations = 35

Calculation for p$ values:

p8 study = 9/35 = 0.2571

p8 work = 8/35 = 0.2285

p8 gym = 4/35 = 0.1142

p8 music = 5/35 = 0.1428p8 cook = 9/35 = 0.2571

Calculation for σ̂$p values:

Study:

σ̂8p = Square Root [(p8 {1- p8 })/ 35]

= Square Root [(0.2571{1-0.2571})/35]

= 0.0738

For 95% CI, we get Z α/2 = 1.96

Range: p8 ± Z α/2 σ̂8p

0.2571 ± 1.96*0.0738

(0.1125, 0.4017)

My confidence level is 95% that the true value of the study category lies between (0.1125, 0.4017)

C= Z α/2 * σ̂8p

=1.96 * 0.0738

= 0.144648

Work:

σ̂8p = Square Root [(p8 {1- p8 })/ 35]

= Square Root [(0.2285{1-0.2285})/35]

= 0.0709

For 95% CI , we get Z α/2 = 1.96

Range: p8 ± Z α/2 σ̂8p

0.2285 ± 1.96*0.0709

(0.0896, 0.3674)

My confidence level is 95% that the true value of the work category lies between (0.0896, 0.3674)

C= Z α/2 * σ̂8p

= 1.96 * 0.0709

= 0.138964

Gym:

σ̂8p = Square Root [(p8 {1- p8 })/ 35]

= Square Root [(0.1142{1-0.1142})/35]

= 0.0537

For 95% CI , we get Z α/2 = 1.96

Range: p8 ± Z α/2 σ̂8p

0.1142 ± 1.96*0.0537

(0.009, 0.2194)

My confidence level is 95% that the true value of the gym category lies between (0.009, 0.2194)

C= Z α/2 * σ̂8p

= 1.96 * 0.0537

= 0.105252

Music:

σ̂8p = Square Root [(p8 {1- p8 })/ 35]

= Square Root [(0.1428{1-0.1428})/35]

= 0.0591

For 95% CI, we get Z α/2 = 1.96

Range: p8 ± Z α/2 σ̂8p

0.1428 ± 1.96*0.0591

(0.027, 0.2586)

My confidence level is 95% that the true value of the music category lies between (0.027, 0.2586)

C= Z α/2 * σ̂8p

= 1.96 * 0.0591

= 0.115836

Cook:

σ̂8p = Square Root [(p8 {1- p8 })/ 35]

= Square Root[(0.2571{1-0.2571})/35]

= 0.0738

For 95% CI, we get Z α/2 = 1.96

Range: p8 ± Z α/2 σ̂8p

0.2571 ± 1.96*0.0738

(0.1125, 0.4017)

My confidence level is 95% that the true value of the cooking category lies between (0.1125, 0.4017)

C= Z α/2 * σ̂8p

= 1.96 * 0.0738

=0.14464

C- Desired Expected level of deviation

Z α/2- Confidence level

σ̂8p- standard deviation of respective category

p8 - the proportion of the total number of observations devoted to an activity category of interest

Hawthorne Evaluation:

Hawthorne Evaluation concept deals with the motto to improve the aspect of a behavior being measured on a person which is experimentally measured in response to the fact that they are being studied, not in response to any particular experimental manipulation.

The Hawthorne effect is a form of reactivity, and describes a temporary change to behavior or performance in response to a change in the environmental conditions, with the response being typically an improvement. Landsberger defined the "Hawthorne evaluation" is a short-term improvement caused by observing worker performance. Others have broadened the definition to mean that people's behavior and performance change following any new or increased attention.

An example for this will be the performance evaluation of a person practicing a game individually to the performance when he is plays in front of 100 people.

In my case I did see that cooking and work takes the same amount of observation and the cooking can be reduced thereby increasing the Study or work.

I also see that Music could be given more importance as it reduces the stress and relieves the mind.

If the above observation was taken for someone else, it would have been better from my perspective because when doing it for myself, I could have neglected the ideal times, Sleeping time, eating time, breaks etc.

When one observes the others it will be easier to notice the above mentioned flaws.

Conclusion:

I personally found that the study was difficult but to me, I had put my honest efforts to make the readings more precise and accurate. This method helped me to analyze how to manage my time with my weekly work schedule. Optimal usage of time with each work will save time, money, energy and enhance good health. I personally found that this project was very much thought provoking and one of the best methods which should be incorporated in every individual’s lifestyle in order to make things more efficient and easy for the rapid fast paced world.

References:

http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-1/early.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect

http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/264811

Work Systems and Methods, Measurement, and management of Work- Mikell P. Groover

www.random.org