scholarly journals Construct validity in Operations Management by using Rasch Measurement Theory. The case of the construct “motivation to implement continuous improvement"

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Sanchez-Ruiz ◽  
Beatriz Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
Rasch Measurement ◽  
Validation Process ◽  
Rasch Measurement Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
Measurement Issue ◽  
Do So

<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-US">Construct design and validation is a common practise in the Operations Management field. In this sense, the aim of this study is to present Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) as richful and useful methodology in order to validate constructs. In order to do so, the measurement controversy in the social science is presented; then, RMT is explained as a solution for this measurement issue; after that, the different applications of RMT are described and, finally, the different stages of the validation process are presented. Thus, this work aims to serve as a guide for those researchers interested in the methodology. Therefore, a specific case is included: the validation of the construct “motivation to implement continuous improvement”. </span></p>

scholarly journals Continuous improvement enablers: Defining a new construct

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Sanchez-Ruiz ◽  
Beatriz Blanco ◽  
Raquel Gomez-Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Rasch Measurement ◽  
Theoretical Construct ◽  
General Classification ◽  
Rasch Measurement Theory ◽  
Business Excellence ◽  
One Step

Purpose: Continuous improvement is a means of promoting and working through business excellence. However, due to the complexity of the implementation process, many companies fail. Some authors consider that this partly due to the lack of studies which develop and validate theoretical constructs in order to push theory in the CI field. Therefore, this study aims at identifying and better understanding the factors that could act as enablers when implementing a CI initiative by designing and analyzing a new theoretical construct.Design/methodology/approach: After conducting a rigorous literature review and consulting a group of experts, Rasch Measurement Theory was used in order to validate the construct and rank the enablers.Findings: After validating the construct, a hierarchy of priority was obtained, being the following enablers the most important ones: establishing clear objectives, training, recognizing the achievements and learning from the CI process itself and motivation.Practical implications: Identifying the key enablers could help those companies that are about to start with the implementation process. Additionally obtaining a general classification could help managers to make good decisions and handle these enablers, fostering the most important one.Originality/value: This paper provides additional evidence regarding the main enablers that an organization that decides to implement CI can foster. Additionally, as far as authors are concerned, this is the first paper that defines a theoretical construct concerning continuous improvement enablers. Going one-step further, this paper obtains a hierarchy of priority, identifying the main enablers according to managers’ opinions.

Evaluating a University Entrepreneurial Programme in a Developing Country: Applying Rasch Measurement Theory to Attitude to Enterprise

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperanza Gil-Soto ◽  
Juan R. Oreja-Rodriguez ◽  
Francisco J. García-Rodríguez ◽  
Inés Ruiz-Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Rasch Measurement ◽  
Rasch Measurement Theory ◽  
Entrepreneurial Attitudes ◽  
Attitudinal Factors ◽  
Personal Attitudes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
University Setting

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of an educational programme developed in Senegal with university students and designed to encourage entrepreneurship by influencing personal attitudes toward enterprise. The instrument to measure the entrepreneurial potential of young people has been applied in different socio-demographic contexts in some previous empirical research. Improvements in students’ perception of attitudinal factors associated with leadership, creativity, achievement and intuition can be inferred from the results of the longitudinal analysis conducted. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship between students’ perceived behavioural control and their attitudes toward starting a business at the end of the entrepreneurial programme is confirmed. Rasch Measurement Theory is applied to analyse the validity of the measurements and findings suggest that the scale used seems to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring entrepreneurial attitude in a university setting. Results confirm that entrepreneurship programmes have the potential to improve the entrepreneurial attitudes of students in a developing country.

scholarly journals Difficulty in implementing continuous improvement – Rasch measurement analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1228-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Sanchez-Ruiz ◽  
Beatriz Blanco ◽  
Emma Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Rasch Measurement ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Level Of Difficulty ◽  
New Perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to define a general and common construct in order to measure the level of difficulty companies experience when they implement continuous improvement (CI). Additionally, a rank of barriers is obtained together with a rank of companies. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the objective, first, a literature review is carried out to specify the domain of the construct; second, a sample of items is selected; third a survey is carried out in companies that have already implemented CI initiatives, the results being thus limited to this population; fourth, measures are purified by analysing the reliability and validity of the measurements, and finally results are obtained. The Rasch measurement theory will be used to provide a new perspective on a mature research topic. Findings It can be concluded that a new valid construct has been defined together with a rank of CI barriers, being lack of time the main barrier. A rank of companies is also obtained which is a first step in the development of future research studies. Practical implications Managers are provided with a better understanding of the barriers that can obstruct CI implementation. Thus, the rank of CI barriers guides managers through the most common and important obstacles so that they will be able to plan better CI strategies. In addition, the rank of companies allows each company to undertake a benchmarking exercise. Originality/value This work proposes a new way of analysing the difficulty in implementing CI as a continuum, rather than as independent barriers. From a theoretical point of view, it defines a new construct and offers a rank of CI barriers together with a rank of companies based on their level of difficulty when implementing CI initiatives. This is something new, as previous studies were mainly focussed on the items side. From a practical point of view, this study offers the surveyed companies the opportunity to see how they are positioned with respect to the other companies. Moreover, this rank of companies is the foundation on which to develop further studies with a practical orientation in the future.

scholarly journals The necessity of applying Rasch measurement theory in questionnaire-based public health research

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
H S Finbråten ◽  
A L Kleppang ◽  
A M Steigen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
Classical Test Theory ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Rasch Measurement ◽  
Test Theory ◽  
Rasch Measurement Theory ◽  
Classical Test

Abstract Background Questionnaires are frequently used in public health research. In order to provide valid and reliable results to generate recommendations for practice and policies, scales with sound psychometric properties are required. Classical test theory such as factor analysis is most frequently used to assess the psychometric properties of scales. However, classical test theory may have limitations in confirming the validity of scales. Only Rasch measurement theory meet the requirements of fundamental measurement, such as additivity, invariance, sufficiency and specific objectivity. The objective is to exemplify how Rasch measurement theory can be used to evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale. Validation of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10 is used as an example. Methods This study is based on cross-sectional data from the Youth Data Survey. In total, 6777 adolescents responded to a web-based questionnaire. Data collection was carried out in lower and upper secondary schools in Norway during 2018. The data were analysed using the partial credit parameterization of the unidimensional Rasch model. Results Preliminary results indicated that the scale had acceptable reliability (person separation index: 0.82). However, one pair of items shows response dependence. The targeting could have been better (mean person location: -1.445). All items had ordered thresholds. Three items under-discriminated. Several items displayed differential item functioning with regard to gender and school level. Conclusions Applying Rasch measurement theory measurement problems that would go undetected using classical test theory approaches were observed. Scales used in public health research should be thoroughly validated applying Rasch measurement theory before the data are used to support claims about public health and used to provide recommendations for policy and practice. Key messages Public health practice and policy should be based on information from valid and reliable scales. Rasch measurement theory should be used to evaluate psychometric properties of scales used in public health research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document