VALIDATION OF REPUTATION MEASUREMENT METHODS IN THE POST-SOVIET TERRITORY

Author(s):  
IVAN SOKOLOVSKYY ◽  
DARIA POTAPOVA ◽  
PAVLO TIENIN

Different approaches to definition of “reputation” concept and its presence in different disciplines’ discourse result in development of large number of reputation measurement approaches. The closest approaches to the sociological understanding of reputation are the RQ (CRQ) and RepTrak™ ones. These approaches were developed by western authors and have not been validated in the post-Soviet territory yet. The paper reviewed the verification of RepTrak™ methodology’s reliability and validity, and analyzed the terminological differences between the types of validity used by the authors of the methodology and their semantic counterparts, traditional for sociology. It is noted in the article that the developers of the methodology did not offer a unified model of corporate reputation; validation was carried out separately for two reputation constructs. The first construct confirms the connection between the emotional component of reputation and articulated willingness to act, the second — between the emotional and cognitive components of reputation. Using empirical data collected in Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan, the authors of the article reproduced the procedures and approaches used by the methodology developers for confirmation of the methodology’s reliability and validity. To this end, authors of the article used confirmatory factor analysis and built structural models that fully correspond to the models used by the developers of the model. The authors of the article compare the parameters of the models and their criteria of fitting to the empirical data. As a result of a comparison done for each reputational construct a conclusion about the possibility of using the emotional reputation index in all three countries was done. It was concluded also that it is possible to use a complete original methodology for reputation research in Ukraine and Russia and it is required to modify it for Kazakhstan.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyna Płudowska ◽  
Rafał Piotr Bartczuk ◽  
Barbara Cichy-Jasiocha ◽  
Andrzej E. Sękowski

We propose a new definition of inconspicuous consumption (IC) as an individual disposition and present an instrument for measuring this variable. The article describes the successive stages of the construction of the Inconspicuous Consumption Scale (ICS). The results of a preliminary selection of items and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses have led to the development of an instrument which measures four factors that make up the global ICS: Knowledge, Services, Experiences, and Subtle Brand Signals. Reliability and validity studies carried out in a sample of 1,330 respondents show that the ICS has satisfactory psychometric properties.


2020 ◽  
pp. 009164712096814
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Knabb ◽  
Veola E. Vazquez ◽  
Kenneth T. Wang

In the present study, the authors developed the Christian Contentment Scale (CCS), an emic measure for assessing both the experience (i.e., inner satisfaction) and source (i.e., God) of contentment among Christian adults. First, the authors reviewed key writings from secular psychology, Buddhism, and Christianity to operationalize a definition of Christian contentment and generate an initial pool of 25 items for further analysis. Second, the authors conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with separate subsamples of online Christian adults ( N = 475), identifying and confirming a one-factor solution for the final 10-item scale. Third, the authors examined the reliability and validity of the CCS, with results revealing the scale had adequate internal consistency, was positively correlated with mindful qualities, life contentment, state contentment, equanimity, and daily spiritual experiences, and predicted equanimity and daily spiritual experiences, after controlling for state contentment. The authors concluded by exploring the salient role that Christian contentment can play in a more holistic, culturally sensitive conceptualization of psychological and spiritual health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Mohamed ◽  
Mohamad Saad ◽  
Mariam A. Magdy

Aim The purpose of this study was to develop a new scale to measure the social stigma of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the workplace using a refined version of Link and colleagues’ (Link & Phelan, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363; Link, Yang, Phelan, & Collins, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a007098) definition of social stigma. Methods The new scale was developed over a multistage process that was guided by existing scales and focus groups. Two studies were conducted to validate the scale. The first, collected data from 224 employees and used exploratory factor analysis to remove unsatisfactory items. The second study collected data from 254 employees and used confirmatory factor analysis. Results Results indicated that the new 32 item scale had acceptable reliability and validity. These results support the conceptualization of stigma as a latent construct that abstracts stereotyping, prejudice and intention to discriminate. Conclusion Findings elucidate that HCV stigma can be operationalized as a general factor behind stereotyping, prejudice and intentions to discriminate in the workplace. This is an important conclusion because it may bring parsimony and coherence to a complex and dispersed literature. Additionally, the new scale may be used to study HCV stigma in the workplace.


1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond M. Costello

This is an empirical examination of Experienced Stimulation (es) and Experience Actual (EA) from Exner's Comprehensive System (CS) for Rorschach's Test, spurred by Kleiger's theoretical critique. Principal components analysis, Cronbach's α, and inter-item correlational analyses were used to test whether 13 determinants used to code Rorschach responses (M, FM, m, CF+C, YF+Y, C'F+C', TF+T, VF+V, FC, FC', FV, FY, FT) are best represented as a one, two, or more-dimensional construct. The 13 determinants appear to reflect three dimensions, a “lower order” sensori-motor dimension (m + CF+C + YF+Y + C'F+C' + TF+T + VF+V) with a suggested label of Modified Experienced Stimulation (MES), a “higher order” sensori-motor dimension (FM + FV + FY + FT) with a suggested label of Modified Experience Potential (MEP), and a third sensori-motor dimension (M+FC+FC') for which the label of Modified Experience Actual (MEA) is suggested. These findings are consistent with Kleiger's arguments and could lead to a refinement of CS constructs by aggregating determinants along lines more theoretically congruous and more internally consistent. A RAMONA model with parameters specified was presented for replication attempts which use confirmatory factor analytic techniques.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Dörrzapf ◽  
Anna Kovács-Győri ◽  
Bernd Resch ◽  
Peter Zeile

AbstractWalking as a transport mode is still often underrepresented in the overall transport system. Consequently, pedestrian mobility is usually not recorded statistically in the same manner as it is performed for motorised traffic which leads to an underestimation of its importance and positive effects on people and cities. However, the integration of walkability assessments is potentially a valuable complement in urban planning processes through considering important quantitative and qualitative aspects of walking in cities. Recent literature shows a variety of approaches involving discrepancies in the definition of walkability, the factors which contribute to it, and methods of assessing them. This paper provides a new understanding of the concept of walkability in the European context. Our approach relies on the extension of methodological competence in transportation, spatial planning and geography by linking new measurement methods for evaluating walkability. We propose an integrated approach to assessing walkability in a comprehensive methodology that combines existing qualitative and GIS-based methods with biosensor technologies and thus captures the perceptions and emotions of pedestrians. This results in an increased plausibility and relevance of the results of walkability analysis by considering the spatial environment and its effect on people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Guilbeault ◽  
Damon Centola

AbstractThe standard measure of distance in social networks – average shortest path length – assumes a model of “simple” contagion, in which people only need exposure to influence from one peer to adopt the contagion. However, many social phenomena are “complex” contagions, for which people need exposure to multiple peers before they adopt. Here, we show that the classical measure of path length fails to define network connectedness and node centrality for complex contagions. Centrality measures and seeding strategies based on the classical definition of path length frequently misidentify the network features that are most effective for spreading complex contagions. To address these issues, we derive measures of complex path length and complex centrality, which significantly improve the capacity to identify the network structures and central individuals best suited for spreading complex contagions. We validate our theory using empirical data on the spread of a microfinance program in 43 rural Indian villages.


2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110134
Author(s):  
Alessandra Costa Pereira Junqueira ◽  
Tracy L. Tylka ◽  
Sebastião de Sousa Almeida ◽  
Telma Maria Braga Costa ◽  
Maria Fernanda Laus

In many countries, women are socialized to adopt a narrow definition of beauty. Research has revealed that, in the United States and China, the ability to broadly conceptualize beauty (perceive beauty in diverse body sizes, shapes, and appearances) is linked to women’s lower anti-fat attitudes, higher body appreciation, and higher well-being. In this study, we translated an existing measure of this construct, the Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale (BCBS), into Brazilian Portuguese and evaluated the factor structure and reliability and validity of its scores with a diverse sample of 563 Portuguese women. Findings revealed that the Brazilian Portuguese BCBS contains two factors—external/appearance features of beauty (BCBS-E) and internal features of beauty (BCBS-I)—contrary to the unidimensional factor structure found in previous studies. Support for internal consistency and 3-week test–retest reliability was garnered. Total BCBS and BCBS-E scores evidenced convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity, whereas the BCBS-I did not accrue substantial convergent or incremental validity support beyond its inverse bivariate association with anti-fat attitudes. We recommend the use of the Brazilian Portuguese BCBS in body image research programs as well as clinical practice and prevention programs with Brazilian women seeking support for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.


2021 ◽  
pp. 073428292110053
Author(s):  
Mahsa Jabbari ◽  
Shahriar Shahidi ◽  
Leili Panaghi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mazaheri ◽  
Eva Oberle

Character strengths are an important foundation for positive development and thriving in adolescence. Most research on character strengths has been conducted with youths in Western cultures. We examined character strengths in relation to positive and negative well-being indicators in a sample of Iranian youths. We investigated the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA Y-96)—a self-report survey commonly used in Western contexts. Participants were adolescents in Iran ( N = 1,359; 48.5% female; M age = 13.54, SD = 1.00) who completed the VIA Y-96 and questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, positive/negative experiences, depression, anxiety, and stress. We found that reliability coefficients were acceptable for most of the VIA subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as a second-order CFA, supported the construct validity of the Farsi VIA Y-96. Correlations between the character strengths and positive and negative well-being indicators supported convergent validity. Measurement invariance for the VIA Y-96 was established in this study comparing boys’ and girls’ response patterns. Sex and grade level differences were found for some of the subscales. Overall, the Farsi VIA Y-96 had acceptable psychometric properties, suggesting that it can be used in research on character strengths with Iranian youths.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Woschnack ◽  
Stefanie Hiss ◽  
Sebastian Nagel ◽  
Bernd Teufel

Abstract This empirical study explores the financialization of social sustainability driven by sustainability accounting and reporting initiatives (SARIs). Since no globally accepted definition of what social sustainability encompasses exists, the paper asks how social sustainability is translated into the financial market language by SARIs as they provide standards for disclosing corporate non-financial performance and promote their concepts of social sustainability. The paper uses a two-step qualitative content analysis. First, it operationalizes social sustainability based on the empirical data of six sustainability rating agencies. Second, this operationalization is compared with the concepts created by three SARIs. The paper shows significant differences between the concepts of the SARIs and the rating agencies. While the rating agencies altogether interpret social sustainability with 83 distinct aspects, the SARIs, although differently created, use significant reduced concepts where 20% of these aspects are absent. The result of this financialization process could be a simplified and financially determined concept of social sustainability within die socially discourse. The research is limited to social sustainability and its financialization by SARIs. Individual indicators and their way or intensity to capture aspects of social sustainability were not part of the research interest. Further research should investigate the economic and the ecological pillars of sustainability as well as the usage of such financialized concepts within the society and especially by corporations. The paper unfolds the arbitrariness of operationalizing a qualitative phenomenon like social sustainability through the financial system. It discloses the need for looking at the mechanisms behind such processes and at the interests of the actors behind the frameworks. The paper reveals the financialization process driven by SARIs and demonstrates its simplifying effects on the concept of social sustainability. Furthermore, the paper shows that SARIs as metrics for non-financial aspects are troubled with a lack of transparency and a lack of convergence.


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