Analysis
The statistical software program SPSS was used to analyze all of the data for all the research questions. In using SPSS, several different inferential statistics were employed to determine possible relations between the variables. The first research question was analyzed using a t-test. A t-test was used because it allowed the researcher to compare the mean conflict management strategy scores against the variable of sex.
The second and third research questions were both analyzed using an ANOVA test. To analyze the second research question, which looked at the relationship between gender roles and conflict management strategies, a one- way ANOVA was used. This method of analysis allowed the researcher to look at the multiple categories of gender roles and the multiple conflict management strategies, and the relationship that existed between the two variables. The topic of the third research question, the relation between organizational status and conflict management strategies, was also analyzed by using a one-way ANOVA. This test allowed the researcher to look at the multiple categories of conflict management and their possible difference between the respondents‟ organizational status.
The fourth research question was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA, where preferred conflict management strategy was the dependent variable and the organizational status of the respondent, and the second party in the conflict was the fixed factors. This type of analysis allowed the researcher to look at the relationship between the organizational status of the respondent and the second party in the conflict in respect to the preferred conflict management strategy.
Both the fifth and sixth research questions were analyzed using a Pearson Correlation test. In the fifth question, the number of years a participant had been with his or her place of employment was analyzed in respect to conflict management strategies. The sixth question analyzed the age of the respondent against the conflict management strategies.
The final research question was analyzed by using a two-way ANOVA. In this case, gender role and organizational status were both fixed factors, while preferred conflict management strategy was the dependent variable. This type of analysis allowed the researcher to view the relationship between gender role and organizational status and the possible impact it had on preferred conflict management strategy.