Contemporary process to test the theory of a research model through covariance-based structural equation modeling in business research

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göran Svensson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe potential flaws and pitfalls in the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through the use of covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). Design/methodology/approach – This paper offers a foundation for discussion, debate and questioning regarding the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through CB-SEM. Findings – The contemporary process to test theory of a research model through CB-SEM in business research lacks to a large extent a stepwise and iterative process of an accumulation of knowledge to build sound and rigorous business theory that is both reliable and valid over time as well as across contexts. Research limitations/implications – This paper provides an awakening toward further debate and discussion on the relevance and suitability of the contemporary process to test the theory of a research model through CB-SEM in business research – is it science, quasi-science or just nonsense? Practical implications – The primary implication of this paper is that its content will challenge most readers ' preconceptions of the topic and stimulate debate. Subsequently, it is the author’s hope that the content is thought-provoking and counterintuitive. Some scholars might reject the content, while others may find it valuable. Originality/value – The paper intends to provide counterintuitive thoughts regarding the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through the use of CB-SEM. CB-SEM offers potentially valuable merits in business research settings, if applied and performed properly.

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soyeon Kim ◽  
Xinran Lehto ◽  
Jay Kandampully

Purpose The primary purpose of this study is to examine the effects of destination familiarity on consumers’ evaluations (cognitive image) and feelings (affective image) about the destination, leading to their intention to visit. Design/methodology/approach The data for this study were collected through a Web-based survey. Based on a sample of 460 respondents, structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results showed that familiarity with a destination not only influences consumers’ cognitive evaluations of the destination but also affects their feelings about it, which translates into their intentions in travelling to the destination. The findings indicate that destination familiarity can enhance consumers’ knowledge about the destination, but more importantly, their affective perceptions can lead to a higher likelihood of visiting a destination. Practical implications The findings provide useful guidance for efficient marketing programs to attract more visitors to a certain tourist destination. Destination marketers must assess the level of familiarity of potential travelers in the development, design and promotion of a destination. This understanding will enable the marketers to more effectively communicate with their target markets and allow them to tailor advertising to different segments of their customers based on their familiarity. Originality/value The majority of previous studies regarding destination familiarity tend to measure the overall familiarity or experiential familiarity (e.g. a comparison between visitors vs non-visitors) without considering consumers’ indirect familiarity with a destination. This study attempts to conceptualize and empirically test the role of destination familiarity on consumers’ cognitive and affective images and intentions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42
Author(s):  
Neelika Arora ◽  
Suman Lata

Purpose With the usage of social media and Web 2. 0, YouTube channels currently play a pivotal role in supporting a traveler’s destination visit. Travelers create their YouTube channels and share their past experiences in the form of videos, which helps other potential travelers to support their destination visit. The purpose of this paper is to understand how travelers adopt information through YouTube channels and how it influences the traveler’s intention to visit a destination. Design/methodology/approach A research model was constructed and empirically tested by using a sample of 486 respondents who watch YouTube channels before visiting a destination. Further, the hypotheses of this study were validated with the help of structural equation modeling using partial least squares. The respondents in this study were from Delhi. Findings This paper found comprehensiveness, relevance, timeliness, source expertise and attitude as the most significant predictors of a traveler’s destination visit intention through YouTube channel adoption. Further, source trustworthiness and accuracy were not found to be statistically significant. Research limitations/Implications The findings of this paper were based on data taken from the local respondents in Delhi. Further, it analyzed the influence of only seven dimensions on destination visit intention, which could have excluded some important factors that influence tourists’ destination visit intention. Practical implications This paper has provided implications for YouTube vloggers and tourists. The result proves that while making decisions regarding destination visit, tourists thinks critically and scrutinize the content of YouTube channels prior to deciding a destination. So, vloggers should provide relevant, comprehensive and accurate destination information through their videos to tourists. Originality To the best of authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first in the Indian context to examine the adoption of YouTube channels before visiting destinations through information adoption models with additional constructs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-302
Author(s):  
Jorge Ramón D’Acosta Rivera ◽  
Rafael Ricardo Jacomossi ◽  
Alcides Barrichello ◽  
Rogerio Scabim Morano

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze patterns and trends of articles that present the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) and that were published in several Brazilian journals. In addition, this paper maps the institutions where the authors of the identified articles are affiliated, and discusses aspects of searching the articles in journals’ archives and other scientific databases. Design/methodology/approach The work used bibliometrics, which is one of the forms of evaluation and measurement of information flows in scientific knowledge, using mathematical and statistical methods. Findings The study showed an exponential growth in using SEM in several areas in recent years, with predominance in marketing. Most of the publications were produced by authors from institutions such as USP, FGV and UFRGS, but most authors published only one article using SEM. Almost all published articles used one of the three most common software, especially AMOS®. Surprisingly, many articles did not mention the software used, indicating methodological flaw. Practical implications Weaknesses were found regarding the search for articles in the different sources used, indicating that, for literature reviews, the research should be conducted in several databases in a complementary way and not alternatively. This fact becomes critical especially when expressions in languages other than Portuguese were used. This situation suggests an aggravating lack of visibility for the Brazilian scientific community since the articles are less likely to be found. Originality/value The paper shows that among the various techniques of multivariate data analysis used in the field of administration, SEM has gained prominence being operationalized using specific software.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Hussain ◽  
Amir Abbasi ◽  
Linda D. Hollebeek ◽  
Carsten D. Schultz ◽  
Ding Hooi Ting ◽  
...  

Purpose Though the videogame literature is thriving, little remains known regarding the effectiveness of pop-up ads that appear in videogames. Addressing this gap, this study, therefore, aims to explore pop-up ads as an important tool to prompt gamer-perceived advertisement value and their subsequent intent to install the advertised videogame. Design/methodology/approach To frame the analyses, the authors adopt and extend Ducoffe’s advertising value model by incorporating the visual/audio aesthetic videogame components that are largely overlooked in prior research. Using a self-administered survey, data were collected from 321 online gamers. The authors tested the model by using partial-least-squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The results indicate that pop-up ad-related incentives, entertainment, credibility, personalization, audio aesthetics and irritation significantly affect user-perceived ad value. In turn, perceived ad value was found to affect players’ intent to install the advertised videogame. Research limitations/implications Though the findings corroborate the importance of pop-up ads being perceived as informative and/or entertaining, they also emphasize the value of personalized ads, ad-related incentives and audio aesthetic, which impact gamers’ intent to install the advertised videogame. Practical implications This study advances managerial understanding of videogame-based services, which is expected to be particularly useful for freemium-based videogame marketers and developers. Originality/value By extending Ducoffe’s model of advertising value, the authors apply the proposed framework in the online videogaming-based pop-up ad context, and explore the effect of user-perceived pop-up ad value on their intent to install the advertised videogame.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Sandalgaard ◽  
Christian Nielsen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of budget targets for performance evaluation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from a contingency perspective. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a survey conducted among small- and medium-sized Danish production companies. It takes a contingency approach and applies structural equation modeling to analyze the data. Findings The authors find that budget emphasis is related to size, decentralization and interdependence. Furthermore, the authors hypothesize and find that the degree of budget emphasis is positively related to performance. Research limitations/implications The usual limitations associated with survey-based research should be considered before drawing conclusions from the findings. In that regard, replications of the study could be useful. Practical implications The practical implication of this paper is that emphasis on the budget target in performance evaluation is of relevance for small- and medium-sized production companies. Originality/value This paper contributes by providing insights into management accounting in SMEs. More specifically, this paper contributes to the debate in the SME literature regarding the value of planning and budgeting in SMEs as the paper focuses on the use of budgets for performance evaluation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel E. Collier ◽  
Daniel L. Sherrell ◽  
Emin Babakus ◽  
Alisha Blakeney Horky

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential differences between types of self-service technology. Specifically, the paper explores how the dynamics of public and private self-service technology influence customers' decision to use the technology. Design/methodology/approach – Existing customers of private and public self-service technology were surveyed from the same industry. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examine how relevant self-service constructs influence evaluations and attitudes of customers across both settings. Findings – The analysis reveals that customers' control and convenience perceptions differ across public and private self-service technology. Additionally, customers placed a heavier emphasis on the hedonic or utilitarian evaluation of a service experience based on the type of self-service technology. Practical implications – For managers of self-service applications, understanding the unique differences of public and private self-service technology can aid in the implementation and adoption of the technology. By properly understanding the differences of the self-service types, managers can provide a beneficial experience to the customer. Originality/value – By identifying and describing two distinct categories of SSTs, this study allows managers and researchers to better understand how and why individuals choose to utilize individual self-service technologies. Through understanding the unique dynamics of a public and a private SST experience, retailers can determine the appropriate strategy for customer adoption based on the utilitarian or hedonic functions of the technology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-324
Author(s):  
Matti Haverila ◽  
Kai Haverila ◽  
Mehak Arora

Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare satisfied and non-satisfied customers in the context of wine tasting rooms using the SERVQUAL model and to examine the relationships in the model in terms of service experience to better understand customer needs. Design/methodology/approach The data used in this study were derived from a survey conducted among wineries in British Columbia, Canada. Analysis of survey results using the partial least squares structural equation modeling was undertaken. Sample size was 402. Findings The findings show that the SERVQUAL constructs that had the most impact on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction were tangibility and assurance. Somewhat surprisingly, the perceived value for money construct was not significantly related to customer satisfaction but was significantly related to repurchase intent. Furthermore, all SERVQUAL constructs, except the reliability construct, were significantly related to customer satisfaction. Originality/value This study provides an overview of how wineries can improve their services to increase the number of satisfied customers.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahadur Ali Soomro ◽  
Naimatullah Shah

PurposeThe present study attempts to identify the predictive power of technopreneurial-related activities (TRAs), technopreneurial self-efficacy (TSE) and technopreneurial motivation (TM) on technopreneurial intention (TE) among the nonbusiness students.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is developed for investigation. A quantitative approach is adopted for this research, and the data are collected from the 282 students of the different public sector universities with a survey questionnaire. The application of structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to investigate the impact of TRAs, TSE and TM on TE.FindingsThe results of SEM found a positive and significant impact of TRAs, TSE and TM on TE among the nonbusiness students of Pakistan.Practical implicationsThe study would be beneficial for the planners and policymakers of universities to improve modes of technopreneurship. The findings may encourage the students to develop strong beliefs, abilities and skills to start a new venture. The literature of entrepreneurship and technopreneurship may further enrich with empirical evidence of the present study.Originality/valueThe study would make technopreneurs able to deal with society's challenges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1443-1468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-I Teng

Purpose Online games are popular electronic commerce platforms in which gamers use avatars to interact with others. Avatar identification (the extent to which gamers regard avatars as an extension of themselves) is known to be related to online gamer loyalty. However, few studies have examined how avatars could be designed to enhance avatar identification and online gamer loyalty, indicating a gap. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to contextualize self-affirmation theory into online gaming contexts, identified key theoretical elements and examined how they are related to avatar identification and online gamer loyalty. Design/methodology/approach This study surveyed 1,348 massively multi-player online role-playing game players, and their responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The analytical results indicate that irreplaceability within a team and avatar customization are positively related to unique avatar image, while avatar customization is positively related to positive avatar image. Moreover, avatar physical attractiveness and avatar ability to achieve are positively related to positive avatar image. Both unique and positive images of an avatar (as perceived by the user) are positively related to avatar identification, and further to online gamer loyalty. Originality/value This study proposes new constructs: irreplaceability within a team, avatar ability to achieve, unique avatar image and positive avatar image. Such new constructs provide insights to aid electronic commerce managers in avatar design, thus instilling gamer identification with avatars, and thus loyalty.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Zillur Rahman Siddique ◽  
Goutam Saha ◽  
Aminur Rahman Kasem

Purpose This paper aims to examine the exogenous effects of experiential attitude toward green (EAG), instrumental attitude toward green (IAG), injunctive norms on green (ING), descriptive norms about green (DNG), green perceived control (GPC) and green self-efficacy (GSE) on green purchase intention (GPI). Moreover, this paper also investigates the causal factors of green purchase behavior (GPB) considering green knowledge (GK), the salience of green behavior (SGB), environmental constraints (ECPG) and green habit (GH). Design/methodology/approach The research model was adopted to measure the green behavior of Bangladeshi consumers using an integrated behavior model (IBM). The data were randomly collected from 372 respondents and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to test the hypotheses. Findings PLS results imply that all independent variables (EAG; IAG; ING; DNG; GPC and GSE) impact GPI; and SGB, GH and GPI influence GPB. On the other hand, GK and ECPG have no significant effect on GPB. Research limitations/implications There may present a gap in the outcomes of the study to signify the generalizability because the survey was conducted in some cities of Bangladesh which may not represent the country as a whole. Practical implications This study anticipates the cause-effect relationship between GPI, GPB and their determinants. The results of the study can help marketers understand green consumer behavior and design appropriate strategies and tactics for new marketing challenges. Originality/value This research investigates green purchase behavior in a developing country. It empirically confirms the validity of IBM in assessing green behavior, especially for Bangladesh, a booming economy and suitable for investment. Although ample research explored green purchase behavior, green habit and saliency have not been considered in measuring green purchase behavior.


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