Absolute Fit Indices Research Articles

PERCEPTION OF TRIBAL AND NON–TRIBAL DAIRY FARMERS TOWARDS THE DAIRY FARMING IN CHHATTISGARH STATE: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING APPROACH

Dairy farming is a secondary occupation for millions of farmers in the Central Indian State of Chhattisgarh. This study used the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to determine how tribal and non-tribal dairy farmers in Chhattisgarh feel about dairy farming and what makes them feel that way. In this study, the data was gathered from dairy farmers during 2020–21. The results of the paired sample t-test showed that both tribal and non-tribal farmers are performing significantly. In the Principal Component Analysis, KMO's sample adequacy test result was 0.724, which means there were enough signs in each element to study. Twelve items of dairy farmers' perceptions were conglomerated into three factors: rational perception, opportunistic perception, and scientific perception. The results of the SEM showed that the absolute fit indices match the sample data and that the proposed model is a good fit because it matches the values of the perception items.

The Mediating Effect of Self Direction in the Relationship Between Parental Autonomy Support and Career Adaptability of Pre-Service Childcare Teachers

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore whether the self-direction mediates the structural relationships between parental autonomy support and the career adaptation of pre-service childcare teachers.Methods: The participants in this study were 272 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade the departments related to child studies and childcare in the region of Gangwon and Gyeongbuk, Pusan, Seoul, Daegu. The study assessed the topics of career adaptability, self-direction and parental autonomy support among pre-service childcare teachers using a questionnaire. The SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 programs were used for the data analysis. The maximun likelihood estimation (MLE) method was used to examine the model fit. Goodness of fit was evaluated using absolute fit indices SRMR, RMSEA and well as relative fit indices CFI and TLI.Results: Results revealed th following four major findings. First, parental autonomy support was found to affects the career adaptability of pre-service childcare teachers. Second, self-direction was found to affect the career adaptability of pre-service childcare teachers. Third, parental autonomy support was found to affect the self-direction of pre-service childcare teachers. Finally, parental autonomy support was found to indirectly affects career adaptability of pre-service childcare teachers through self-direction.Conclusion: This study makes a meaningful contribution by determining relationship between the factor of patental autonomy support, self-direction, and career adaptability among pre-service childcare teachers. Given that self-direction was found to mediate the relationship between parental autonomy support and career adaptability of pre-service childcare teachers, it is suggested that parental autonomy support is a important environmental factor involved in developing self-direction.

중학생을 위한 공유 인식 측정 도구의 외적 타당도 및 신뢰도 검증

Objectives The purpose of this study is to verify the external validity by applying the developed tools to measure the cognition of sharing for middle school students. Methods To this end, the sharing cognition measurement tool was conducted as an online survey on 1,033 students at J Middle School in Gyeonggi-do. In addition, the responses of the study subjects were divided in half and used for exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. In the exploratory factor analysis, it was confirmed that 29 questions converged to the corresponding area using SPSS for 517 responses. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the validity and reliability of the factors were confirmed using AMOS for 516 responses to 15 questions extracted as a result of exploratory factor analysis. Results As a result of exploratory factor analysis, 3 factors and 15 questions were derived and composed of general sharing cognition (3 questions), value sharing cognition (6 questions), and knowledge sharing cognition (6 questions). As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity and discriminant validity were secured through the validity verification of the factors, and absolute fit index, incremental fit index, and parsimonious fit index were valid through the model fit verification, so it was judged that the measurement tool was suitable. Conclusions The sharing cognition measurement tool verified in this study can be used to diagnose the sharing cognition of middle school students, to develop a program that improves the sharing competency, and to verify the effectiveness of the program related to the sharing competency.

Construct Validity of Emotional Intelligence Scale for Sports Students

Emotional intelligence measurement is a potentially important construct and has become one of the most exciting issues in psychological research. This study aimed to test the construct validity of the emotional intelligence scale developed for sports students. The research employed a quantitative approach using a survey method. Participants involved in this study were 280 active sports students. Data were collected through an emotional intelligence scale and analyzed using factor analysis, namely exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS 22 software. The fit index test model was based on three categories: absolute fit indices, incremental fit indices, and parsimony fit indices. It indicates that the scale met the valid and reliable criteria for measuring the emotional intelligence of sports students. There were 27 question items declared valid, meaning that all of these items measured the five components, including 14 indicators constructed according to the Bar-on conceptual model.

Validation of the persian version of the COVID-19 prevention, recognition and home-management self-efficacy scale.

Adopting preventive behaviors and following the guidelines for controlling the COVID-19 epidemic depend on people's self-efficacy in carrying out these behaviors and instructions. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the COVID-19 Self-Efficacy Scale (COVID-19 SES, Hernández-Padilla et al., 2020). This cross-sectional study was performed in a group of 400 people who were residents of the city of Asadabad in western Iran from December 2020 to January 2021. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Face and content validity was assessed qualitatively based on feedback from the participants and experts, and the necessary changes were applied to the final version of the questionnaire. For construct validity, exploratory factor analysis (n=200) and confirmatory factor analysis (n=200) were performed. Internal consistency was expressed as Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Relative stability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and absolute stability was calculated through examination of standard error of measurement (SEM). In exploratory factor analysis, three factors of prevention, symptom recognition, and homemanagement of COVID-19 were extracted that together explained 71.35% of the total variance. The internal consistency of the whole instrument was 0.955 and its three dimensions were 0.894, 0.916 and 0.955, respectively. In addition, an ICC of 0.986 (95% CI: 0.975-0.993, p=0.001) was found. In the confirmatory factor analysis, comparative and parsimonious fit indices were excellent, and absolute fit indices were moderate. The Persian version of the COVID-19 SES has good validity and reliability and can be used to measure self-efficacy in prevention, symptoms recognition, and home-management of COVID-19.

The Impact Of Brand Factor, Customer Factor, And Product Factor On Brand Loyalty Towards Motorbike Brands In Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand’s market for “big bikes”, or motorbikes larger than 400cc, has been enjoying tremendous growth especially with their attractive design and powerful engines, big bikes are a dream machine for many men and even some women. According to the Land Transport Department, nearly 165,000 big bikes have been registered in Thailand so far, and the number is expected to near the 200,000 mark by the end of this year (2021). On a global scale, the market for motorcycles is concentrated in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, an area that accounts for 80% of total annual global sales (source: Statista). Therefore, competition has been fierce and all brands are looking for ways to increase brand loyalty in order to stabilize their earnings and sustain sales growth over time. Therefore, it would be beneficial to all these big bike brands to understand what constitute consumer loyalty. The purpose of this research is study of factors influencing brand loyalty of big bikers in Thailand. These factors include First-order variables: Customer Expectation (CE), Customer Satisfaction (CS), Brand Personality (BP), Brand Image (BI), Brand Trust (BT), Product (PD), Customer Psychology (CP); and Second-order variables: Customer factor (CUS), Brand factor (BRA). 400 sample were collected using electronic questionnaire through social media. We used second-order Structural Equation Models (SEM) for data analysis. The result shows that the RMSEA, which is an absolute fit index that assesses how far our hypothesized model is from a perfect model, for this model is .047 (<.05) which strongly indicates a “close fit” and the Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) value is .903 (>.90), the model seems to fit well according to the descriptive measures of fit. Moreover, CFI, which is incremental fit indices that compare the fit of our hypothesized model with that of a baseline model (i.e., a model with the worst fit), its value equals .900 indicating an acceptable fit. More importantly, Customer factor (CUS), which is second-order factor of Customer Expectation (CE) and Customer Satisfaction (CS), seem to have significant effects on Customer Psychology towards Brand Loyalty of Big Bikers in Bangkok Thailand due to their p-values are all less than .05. That means if big bike companies and manufacturers can come up with the models that meet or exceed consumer expectation and satisfy customer needs, big bikers will be more likely to switch to your brand and become brand loyal any day.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENT AND JOB SATISFACTION MEDIATED BY WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN PT. TIARA IMPRESA GUGUS ARTHA

This study aims to determine the relationship between Flexible Working Arrangement (X1) and Job Satisfaction (Y) mediated by Work-life Balance (Z) at PT Tiara Impresa Gugus Artha. This research was conducted for six months starting from December 2020 to June 2021. The research method used was a survey method. The affordable population in this study amounted to 110 employees. Based on Isaac and Michael's table, the number of samples in this study was 86 respondents. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling technique. The data analysis techniques used are: (1) analysis requirements test which consists of validity and reliability tests. The test results state that the three variables are valid with reliable values for the job satisfaction variable, namely 0.867, the flexible working arrangement variable, 0.706 and the work-life balance variable 0.840; (2) Model suitability test consisting of absolute fit indices, incremental fit indices and parsimony fit indices. The test results stated that the three variables were fit; (4) The hypothesis test in this study used SEM AMOS 21. In this study, the detection test of the intervening variable was carried out using the Sobel test. The results show that work-life balance mediates the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction.

Investigating the effects of renewable energy utilization towards the economic growth of Sri Lanka: A structural equation modelling approach

With the rapid depletion of natural resources and increased environmental pollution, nations across the world are in a desperate need of achieving the common goal of sustainable development. Combustion of fossil fuels along with other human activities over the past few decades have resulted in increased greenhouse gas emissions leading to the climate change and the multi-scale pollution of land, air and water that the world is experiencing today. Hence, the focus has now been shifted towards the sustainable and renewable energy sources while prompting a circular economy. Being one of the island nations of South Asia, Sri Lanka has also aligned the country's economic strategies with the global trends and aims to be a 100% sustainable energy dependent nation by 2050. Consequently, there has been a gradual rise in the renewable energy establishments in the country over the past two decades. This study aims to analyze the influence of these establishments on the economic growth of the country, using a structural equation modelling approach. A conceptual model was formulated to represent the relationships between the renewable energy consumption and the key economic indicators, and also a path analysis was carried out to explore the relationships among the variables. The fit of the conceptual model to the secondary data collected related to the economic and energy indicators was established using a number of statistical fit indices such as the Chi-square, absolute fit indices and the root mean square error of approximation. The results indicate that there is no significant direct effect of the renewable energy consumption on the GDP of Sri Lanka yet, but there is an indirect positive effect through capital formation and also an indirect negative effect through trade balance. Hence, it is clear that renewable energy establishments have to be promoted through incentives/policies that lead to capital accumulation via increased renewable energy consumption. Moreover, the analysis and the findings presented in this study can be related and are applicable to many of the emerging economies across the globe. • This paper analyses the effect of renewable energy usage on economic growth. • This discusses the renewable energy profile of Sri Lanka. • SEM approach identifies links among renewable energy usage and economic growth. • Analysis and findings of this paper are related to emerging economies. • This discusses the renewable energy potential of Sri Lanka.

Development of the German version of the patient safety climate inventory to the Austrian context

ObjectivesIn recent years, patient safety culture (PSC) in hospitals, including its development and measurement, has increasingly received attention in Europe. Even though several instruments have been developed for PSC measurement...

Influence of Chewing Ability on Elderly Adults' Cognitive Functioning: The Mediating Effects of the Ability to Perform Daily Life Activities and Nutritional Status.

Chewing ability is also related to activities of daily living (ADLs) and nutritional status; however, these associations have not been firmly established. We examined chewing ability as a predictor variable and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning as mediated by ADLs and nutritional status data were collected by face-to-face interviews. Patients were receiving home healthcare service in Mun-gyeong city, Gyung-buk, Korea. Participants comprised 295 patients aged 81.35 ± 6.70 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The model fit was based on absolute fit index and incremental fit index. Data were collected to assess cognitive functioning (using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS)), ADL, a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire, and a chewing ability test. Participants with better chewing ability had significantly better cognitive functioning, ADLs, and nutritional status (p < 0.001). Chewing ability directly affected cognitive functioning and indirectly affected how ADLs and MNA affected MMSE-DS. Chewing ability is an important factor influencing the cognitive functioning of elderly adults in Korea, both directly and indirectly through mediating variables such as nutritional status and ADLs. Efforts to help older adults maintain their chewing ability are necessary for preventing cognitive impairment.

An Application of Latent Class Analysis for TIMSS 2015 Data: Detecting Heterogeneous Subgroups

This study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of the TIMSS 2015 data from Turkey and the USA 8th grade math. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to determine the latent classes that cause heterogeneity in the data by using categorical observed variables. As a result of the LCA, supporting absolute and relative model fit indices through AvePP and entropy values, it was concluded that the data obtained from both countries fit the three-class model. The latent class probabilities and conditional response probabilities were examined for homogeneity and degree of segregation of the classes from each other. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the assumption of homogeneity in international evaluations be evaluated empirically with LCA. With this article, an example of the application of LCA is provided, and it is believed to be useful for researchers in the context of education and psychological evaluation.

The empirical evidence on negating turnover intentions among academicians

Employee turnover is a major concern for organizations. Specifically, among private business schools, it is proved to be one of the major impediments in carrying out academic activities. This phenomenon creates a conundrum for both college administrations and students. Therefore, each academic unit must work to minimize employee turnover. This study aims to identify the elements that influence academicians’ turnover intentions and the ways to negate them. It used a random sample of 236 academicians (professors, assistant professors, associate professors, and lecturers) from various business schools in India. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to analyze the sample. In addition, the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to examine the hypotheses. All variables studied had high loadings of 0.50 or more in CFA. The research model was shown to be fit on three important absolute fit indices: absolute, incremental, and parsimonious. The regression weights of hypotheses were also determined to be significant. The findings indicate that organizational support, compensation, and personnel management had a detrimental effect on turnover intentions at business schools. These results can be used by college administration and management in devising interventions that will assist them in retaining existing talented staff and avoiding the negative repercussions of future turnover.

Mediating effect of organizational learning on the relationship between lean manufacturing practices and operational performance

Manufacturing organizations apply best practices to keep operational expenses at a minimum level without compromising the quality in order to be competitive. Lean manufacturing is such practice adopted by apparel manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka and achieving the expected operational performance has become a challenge due to institutional specific factors. Further, the existing literature is inconclusive and ambiguous on operational performance that resulted from lean practices and paucity of studies explain how lean practices bring performance. Thus, this study argues that lean practices will create operational performance through organizational learning. Accordingly, this study examines the mediating effect of organizational learning on the relationship of lean manufacturing practices to operational performance. A survey is conducted to collect cross sectional data using a self-administered questionnaire. Sample consisted of 386 of managers in the apparel sector in Sri Lanka using simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study claim a partial mediation of organizational learning on to the impact of lean practices on operational performance. The highest influence for operational performance is through organizational learning (β=0.513) while the direct impact is slightly less ((β=0.200). Study also has tested the criteria of goodness of fitness with absolute, parsimony and incremental fit indices. This study contributes to the existing literature by explaining how lean as a best practice result on operational performance via organizational learning. Thus, practicing managers need to utilize lean practices as a learning mechanism for growth than being taking it as a mere practice. Finally, this study adds value to the Institutional theory by giving a better explanation on when external pressures transform into a practice, how that practice convert into a performance outcome through learning for growth.&#x0D; Keywords: Lean manufacturing practices (LM), Organizational learning (OL), Operational performances (OP)

Validation of Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale in a Moroccan sample of breast cancer women

BackgroundThe Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) instrument is commonly used worldwide by professionals of oncology, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic and Moroccan context, and there is an absence of data in the Moroccan population. This study aims to validate the Mini-MAC, translated and adapted to the Arabic language and Moroccan culture, in women with breast cancer.MethodsData were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 158). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 203) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis confirmed Watson’s original structure underlying the Mini-MAC items: Helpless/Hopeless, Anxious Preoccupation, Fighting Spirit, Cognitive Avoidance, and Fatalism. Absolute, incremental, and parsimonious fit indices showed a highly significant level of acceptance confirming a good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR =0.93–0.97), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.66–0.93), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations values were lesser than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity.Conclusionsreliability; and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Arabic version of the Mini-MAC had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool measuring psychological responses to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Adaptation of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s ‘Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture’ to the Bosnia and Herzegovina context

ObjectivesMeasuring staff perspectives on patient safety culture (PSC) can identify areas of concern that, if addressed, could lead to improvements in healthcare. To date, there is no validated measure to...

Validation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC).

The purpose of the current study is to validate the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC; Baker et al., 2016), a measure of trauma-informed care (TIC) attitudes for human service/health providers and educators. The current study with 1,395 human services/health providers and educators from 17 settings examined the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the ARTIC. The 7-factor structure of the ARTIC-45 and the 5-factor structure of the ARTIC-35 were replicated with regard to the absolute fit indices though they failed to meet the cutoff for the incremental fit indices, likely due to the complexity of the measure. Internal consistencies ranged from acceptable to excellent across the instrument's forms, subscales, and versions. Providing support for construct validity, ARTIC scores were predictably related to familiarity with and knowledge about TIC, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, with effect sizes typically in the medium range. However, predicted relationships between ARTIC scores and training in TIC and trauma-sensitive school elements were not evident. The ARTIC is a direct, efficient, and cost-effective measure of attitudes related to TIC. This study further demonstrates the reliability of the ARTIC and provides some support for its validity. Evaluating the favorability of staff attitudes about TIC plays a key role in ensuring readiness for, effectiveness of, and sustainability of TIC in systems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

사회복지사의 윤리경영인식이 조직몰입을 매개로 조직시민행동에 미치는 영향

This study analyzed the ethical management awareness of social workers in welfare facilities for the disabled with a structural equation model, parameterizing organizational commitment to understanding the effect on organizational citizenship behavior. A survey was conducted on 622 social workers from March 19 to April 15, 2018. The descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, T-test, correlation, ANOVA, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation models were validated with AMOS 18.0 and SPSS 22.0 programs. The results of this study are as follows: firstly, the incremental fit index and the absolute fit index of the hypothetical model are appropriate. Secondly, the ethical management perception of social workers is found to have a certain influence on organizational citizenship behavior. Thirdly, the ethical management perception of social workers has an indirect and significant effect on the behavior of organizational citizenship behavior through organizational commitment and a relationship has also been shown as a partial mediation factor. Based on the results of this research, the change in ethical management awareness is expected to be the measure to improve the level of organizational trust and attitudes of workers, and it could contribute to effective organizational management of welfare facilities for the disabled in the future.

The National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace: A Psychometric and Descriptive Study of the Nursing Workforce in British Columbia Hospitals.

In 2013, the Mental Health Commission of Canada created a National Standard that includes 13 workplace factors associated with employee mental health. This study (a) examined the psychometric properties of Guarding Minds at Work (GMW), the instrument used to measure the Standard's 13 workplace factors and (b) assessed BC nurses' workplace risk factors. A province-wide survey study of 3,077 direct care nurses working in acute care settings was conducted. Subscale internal consistencies were acceptable. For most items, the original alphas were greater than the alpha-if-item-deleted. All corrected item-subtotal correlations were moderate to high. The 13-factor structure showed an adequate model fit based on absolute fit indices (SRMR = 0.057 and RMSEA = 0.054) but the relative fit indices were lower than the recommended cutoff (CFI = 0.827 and TLI = 0.815). Nurses identified nine of the 13 GMW factors as serious or significant concern in their workplace. The findings were consistent with a plethora of evidence pointing to shortcomings in nurses' work environments. This was the first study partially supporting the reliability and validity of the GMW. More work is required to refine the GMW and gain a better understanding of its psychometric properties.

Intention to Implement 5S Management Among Students in Higher Education Institutions

The aim of this research paper is to analyze intention for implementing 5S management among students in higher education institutions. The quality management method using 5S approach is function to standardized process to properly implemented creates and maintains an organized, safe, clean and efficient workplace. In this study. The 5S method was implemented to create conducive and efficient place for student activities related to academic. This study implemented quantitative method using survey development with application Technology Acceptance Model, in analyzing student intention of implementing quality management for study workspace and living space. The sampling procedure using stratified random sampling method for students that have intention and experience in implementing quality management in their daily life. The number of respondents is 120 students that studying in higher education institutions. This study developed confirmatory factor analysis for measurement model. The absolute fit index, incremental fit index and parsimonious fit index is meet the requirement level to prove measurement model is robust, reliable and represented the actual data. The structural model in this study analyzed using maximum likelihood estimator. This study indicates all of the exogenous variable have significant and positive effect to the endogenous latent construct. The Perceived Usefulness (PU) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.507 with probability value is less than 0.001. Next, the Perceived Ease of Use (PE) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.433 with probability value is less than 0. 001. Then, the Religiosity (R) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.348 with probability value is less than 0.001. The finding of this study contributes to the body of knowledge in 5S quality management and it helps policy makers in university to develop conducive environment for students.

On the Sequential Hierarchical Cognitive Diagnostic Model.

Model data fit plays an important role in any statistical analysis, and the primary goal is to detect the preferred model based on certain criteria. Under the cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) framework, a family of sequential cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs) is introduced to handle polytomously scored data, which are attained by answering constructed-response items sequentially. The presence of attribute hierarchies, which can provide useful information about the nature of attributes, will help understand the relation between attributes and response categories. This article introduces the sequential hierarchical CDM (SH-CDM), which adapts the sequential CDM to deal with attribute hierarchy. Furthermore, model fit analysis for SH-CDMs is assessed using eight model fit indices (i.e., three absolute fit indices and five relative fit indices). Two misfit sources were focused; that is, misspecifying attribute structures and misfitting processing functions. The performances of those indices were evaluated via Monte Carlo simulation studies and a real data illustration.