Multigroup Comparisons

Author(s):  
Barbara M. Byrne

One common weakness in multigroup comparison research is the pervading assumption that both the assessment scale and the construct(s) it is designed to measure are operating equivalently across the groups of interest. Structural equation modeling (SEM) has long been recognized as the premier methodological approach to test assumptions of equivalence. The primary focus of this chapter is directed toward the use of SEM in testing for the equivalence (also termed “invariance”) of assessment scales across independent groups. The purposes are threefold: (a) to explicate the basic notions underlying the concepts of measurement and structural equivalence; (b) to outline and describe the hierarchical set of steps involved in testing for measurement and structural equivalence; and (c) to provide an annotated, yet concise illustration of this equivalence-testing process as it relates to a commonly used assessment scale designed to measure teacher burnout across elementary and secondary female teachers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Jean Marc Nacife ◽  
Frederico A. Loureiro Soares ◽  
Marconi Batista Teixeira ◽  
Leonardo Nazário S. dos Santos ◽  
Gustavo Castoldi

Agribusiness has played a strategic role for Brazil's development with the challenge of sustainable agriculture. It is proposed to determine, through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the validity and effects of the relationships between socioeconomic factors of the sugarcane production system in Quirinópolis, providing subsidies to the decision-making process of agricultural establishments. The research methodological approach was quantitative, applying techniques of normality statistics, hypothesis and multivariate analysis without statistical significance (P <0,05). A path diagram model was developed that presented structural quality adjustment and its validated explanatory equations, obtaining relevant R2. The results demonstrate that the Equation 1 (IBCcane = 0.02Rcane - 0.75ICcane – 0.46ISVO + 0.35ISPS + error) is explained in 73.7% of its variance (R2), in the Equation 2 (ICcane = 0.59ISVO – 0.45ISPS + 0.35SizeEstablis + error) successor vocation affects 42% on production costs and in the Equation 3 (Rcane = -0.40 AgroDistance – 0.16ISPS + error) the distance between farm and agribusiness influences 72% on the proposed revenue mix. The SEM analysis verified that social factors influence the economic factors that compose the sugarcane production system studied. The path diagram proved that the influence track relative to the costs in the proposed model is more representative than revenue for the economic results of rural sugarcane establishments. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Canan Saricam

Abstract The sportswear industry has a growing market globally. In the sportswear retail market, where the primary focus is on providing customers the product, but provision of the necessary ancillary service also takes place, the service quality and its relation to customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are important. With an attempt to find out this relationship, the data for this study was obtained from 251 people living in Turkey. The service quality was described as a second-order construct with the dimensions proposed in SERVQUAL scale. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze and validate the model. The findings showed that the service quality, together with the relevant dimensions, tangibles, reliability, and assurance, has an influence on the customer satisfaction but not on the customer loyalty. Nonetheless, it was confirmed the customer satisfaction has an impact on the customer loyalty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 337-354
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Khatami ◽  
Alberto Ferraris ◽  
Paola De Bernardi ◽  
Valter Cantino

PurposeThis paper empirically tests the relationship between food heritage, familiness, and clan culture, thus, highlighting the pivotal role of familiness in building robustly competitive food firms based on clan culture and food heritage.Design/methodology/approachThe methodological approach adopted is based on a quantitative analysis with data from one eco-tourist city in Iran (Torqabeh). In this regard, we developed a structured questionnaire surveying 98 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the food industry. We then used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to carry out the analysis.FindingsThe results indicate the significant positive relationship between food heritage and clan culture, and highlight the role of familiness as a strong mediator, which is also associated with a strong relationship between food heritage and clan culture.Research limitations/implicationsIn the present study, the main limitation was linked to the small sample size and data collection, which took place in only a single city; however, further research could overcome this limitation by investigating SMEs from a heterogeneous geographical context.Originality/valueThe value of this research relates to studies that have examined food heritage as a possible antecedent of familiness. Moreover, the novelty of this research is to study the concept of familiness in improving resource-based views and organizational theories.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Carlos Pinho

Purpose This paper draw insights from social capital theory and examines the synergistic effect of several constructs on export performance within the context of exporter–intermediary relationships. Specifically, it assumes that social capital and the set of resources embedded therein strongly influence the extent to which both commitment and cooperation occur, and how these, in turn, impact on export performance. Design/methodology/approach Following a quantitative methodological approach, a survey is applied to a sample of small and medium-sized enterprise exporters, to empirically test the proposed conceptual model. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is used to test the empirical model. Findings The findings reveal that there is a positive and direct impact of social capital on export performance. Results also confirm that the presence of high social capital between exporters and intermediaries affects both high commitment and high cooperation. The study also confirms the mediation effect of cooperation in the relationship between social capital and export performance. Practical implications One possible shortfall of this research relates to the fact that this analysis only incorporates the view of one actor, the view of exporter firms. This limitation could open a rewarding direction for future research, which would be to analyze the view of both sides in a dyadic relationship. Originality/value This paper presents the original approach of looking at the relational antecedents of export performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall S. Davis ◽  
Edmund C. Stazyk

The application of psychometric statistical techniques, such as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, has grown significantly in public administration research over the past three decades. Given the growth in the application of these techniques, we take stock of the ability of these statistical approaches to advance public administration theory by examining their use in two areas of research: public service motivation and red tape. We further argue that theoretical and methodological diversity in public administration is desirable, so long as scholars recognize that the application of new and multiple methods in a single study do not inherently lead to better tests of theory. Instead, scholarship should focus on emphasizing that each theoretical and methodological approach adds significant, yet partial, contribution to public administration scholarship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-55
Author(s):  
Ida Sèmévo Tognisse ◽  
Jules Degila

Mobile telephony networks have seen a high rate of adoption worldwide in recent years. However, these networks do not exist everywhere, and even where they are, their adoption is lagging. Especially in uncovered rural areas, it is difficult to predict the technology's acceptance and adoption factors. This study deals with the usage gap of mobile telephone networks and attempts in a methodological approach based on structural equation modeling to prevent the telephone usage gap in rural Africa yet to be covered. To that purpose, the authors use a research model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). By combining these two models and incorporating the moderating effects of demographic variables such as age, gender, education, and experience of technology use, this paper has retained a model with the ability to determine how rural residents will accept and use future networks.


Assessment ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 929-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Austin ◽  
Stephen F. Finn ◽  
Timothy Z. Keith ◽  
Deborah J. Tharinger ◽  
April D. Fernando

This study outlines the development of the Parent Experience of Assessment Scale (PEAS), which is based on principles of Therapeutic Assessment. The study includes pilot testing of a 64-item questionnaire across 134 participants, with psychometric analyses utilizing confirmatory factor analysis. The revised version consists of 24 items across five subscales with appropriate internal consistency reliability (alphas from .76 to .88). The PEAS demonstrates statistically significant relations with general parent satisfaction, with two subscales indicating significant direct effects via structural equation modeling. The PEAS has the potential utility to provide more nuanced clinical and investigative feedback regarding the parent process during child psychological assessment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-425
Author(s):  
Lawrence Musiitwa Kyazze ◽  
Isa Nsereko ◽  
Isaac Nkote

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between cooperative practices of accountability, cooperative ownership, advanced communication and non-financial performance in savings and credit cooperative societies. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a cross-sectional research design and adopted a mixed methodological approach were hypotheses were statistically tested using structural equation modeling based on survey data (n = 220) and narratives from qualitative findings supported the quantitative findings from savings and credit cooperative societies. Findings The findings reveal that cooperative practices of accountability, cooperative ownership and advanced communication are significantly and positively associated with non-financial performance of savings and credit cooperative societies. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between cooperative practices of accountability, cooperative ownership and advanced communication and non-financial performance in savings and credit cooperative societies in emerging economies like Uganda. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is limited or no study that has used the construct of agency theory in explaining the relationship between cooperative practices and non-financial performance in savings and credit cooperative societies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sevda Helpap ◽  
Sigrid Bekmeier-Feuerhahn

Purpose Organizational changes are emotionally charged processes, and scholarly research has increasingly emphasized the impact of employee emotions on successful change management. This impact has rarely been considered in light of approaches focussing on employee sensemaking. To address this critical gap, the purpose of this paper is to combine the model of enacted sensemaking with insights from the Affect Infusion Model. Design/methodology/approach To test the model, the authors surveyed 261 employees with a vignette study and performed structural equation modeling on the results. Findings The findings reveal that emotions significantly affect employees’ level of psychological resources, particularly change commitment, efficacy, and expectations. Furthermore, change commitment and efficacy are significant predictors of resistance intention, which confirms (to an extent) the validity of enacted sensemaking, and these factors mediate the relationship between employees’ emotions and their resistance intentions. Research limitations/implications This study focussed on the early stages of a change initiative. Therefore, the authors only considered employee assessment at one point in time. Practical implications This model has managerial utility for explaining how employees’ resistance intention regarding change is influenced by employees’ emotions and their psychological resources. Originality/value The results broaden the horizons because they suggest a model of “emotionally primed” enacted sensemaking for employees during organizational change by offering a new theoretical framework (enacted sensemaking and substantive processing) and a new methodological approach (quantitative vignette study).


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flevy Lasrado ◽  
Munyaradzi Nyadzayo

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of total quality management (TQM) internalization factors on the relationship between the proposed drivers (internal/external motives) and outcomes (external benefits and financial results). Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of quality managers, this study adopts a two-step methodological approach to explore the key components of TQM internalization via an initial exploratory study followed up with a quantitative study to examine the relationships between the proposed drivers using structural equation modeling. Findings The qualitative study revealed the key components of TQM implementation factors, namely top management commitment, middle management commitment and audits, training and employees’ commitment. The quantitative results show that a positive relationship between external motives and TQM internalization was not supported; yet, the results supported the influence of internal motives on TQM internalization. Further, the results revealed a significant relationship between TQM internalization and internal benefits but not financial benefits. Finally, a strong positive link between internal and financial benefits emerged. Research limitations/implications The study findings are only based on the perceptions of quality managers and future research could test the proposed model using other units of analysis in order to fully capture the role of TQM internalization. Practical implications The findings show that award model adoption is a significant tool for quality improvement in organizations, a procedure that drives both internal and financial benefits. Further, the study points out areas that companies should emphasize in order to successfully implement a quality award model and therefore harvest its potential benefits. Originality/value The paper proposes an empirically tested conceptual framework that examines vital issues concerning the internalization of the TQM approach through award models, thus providing valuable outcomes for decision makers to improve service quality.


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