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Chapter 3 46 Researchers frequently rely on general linear models (GLM) to investigate the impact of human resource management (HRM) decisions. However, the structure of organizations and recent technological advancements in the measurement of HRM processes cause contemporary HRM data to be hierarchical and/or longitudinal. At the same time, the growing interest in effects at different levels of analysis and over prolonged periods of time further drives the need for HRM researchers to differentiate from traditional methodology. While multi-level techniques have become more common, this paper proposes two additional methods which may complement the current methodological toolbox of HRM researchers. Latent bathtub models can accurately describe the multi-level mechanisms occurring in organizations, even if the outcome resides at the higher level of analysis. Optimal matching analysis can be useful to unveil longitudinal patterns in HRM data, particularly in contexts where HRM processes are measured on a continuous basis. Illustrating the methods’ applicability to research on employee engagement, this paper demonstrates that the HRM community – both research and practice – can benefit from a more diversified methodological toolbox, drawing on techniques from in- and outside the direct field to improve the decision-making process.

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