Endogenous Latent Variables Research Articles

Assessment of PLS-SEM Path Model for Coefficient of Determination and Predictive Relevance of Consumer Trust on Organic Cosmetics

In this paper the researchers investigated the coefficient of determination R-Square and predictive relevance (Q2) through Blindfolding. To fulfil the aim of the study, a structured quantitative research survey has been conducted with 640 sample size. The results emerged from the research survey shows that the R-Square hasmoderate strength for the endogenous latent variable trust and substantial strength or effect for the endogenous latent variables integrity, ability and benevolence. After calculating Q2for the endogenous latent variable ability, benevolence, integrity and trust it was found that the model has predictive relevance for these constructs. The path coefficient threshold values for measuring between indicators namely, cause purview and emotional benefits, cause consequential and trust, cause rubric and trust, cause span and emotional benefits, emotional benefits and trust, functional benefits and trust, ability and trust, benevolence and trust and also for integrity and trust are above the threshold value of 1.96 substantiate the hypothesis and exerts direct relationship between two variables. But the path coefficient threshold values between indicators namely, Cause purview and trust, cause consequential and trust, cause rubric and emotional benefits, cause span and trust, and also self-expressive and trust are below the threshold value of 1.96 does not substantiate the hypothesis and also does not exerts direct relationship between two variables. At the end of the paper, the author highlights the results, along with implications and limitations.

The level of influence of trust, commitment, cooperation, and power in the interorganizational relationships of Brazilian credit cooperatives

This article aims to analyze the level of influence of trust, commitment, cooperation, and power in the interrelationships of individual credit cooperatives and their central organization in Brazil. The quantitative and descriptive research was developed in unique credit unions linked to the Central Bank of Brazil and the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, with the estimation through partial least squares. The results obtained for the coefficients of determination (R2) of the endogenous latent variables confirmed the assumptions found in the theoretical models of Morgan and Hunt (1994) and Coote, Forrest, and Tam (2003). Statistical significance was also found in the relationships between power and trust, commitment and cooperation, trust and commitment, trust and cooperation, and power and commitment. However, in this study the relationship between power and commitment characterized the significance and was positive between the individual credit cooperatives and their central organization. This is in line with the understanding that power is the solution to resolving conflicts. The research identifies how the constructs of trust, commitment, cooperation, and power show relevance to the alignment of relations between individual credit cooperatives and their central organization.

The effects of service quality, image, and customer satisfaction on customer complaints and loyalty in high-speed rail service in Turkey: a proposal of the structural equation model

ABSTRACTThis study proposes a structural equation model for delineating the factors affecting the loyalty of passengers travelling by high-speed rail between Eskişehir and Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and between Ankara and Konya, the geographically largest and seventh most densely populated province of Turkey, as well as the structural relationships between such factors. In the proposed structural model, functional service quality and technical service quality are defined as the exogenous latent variables, and corporate image, customer satisfaction, customer complaint, and customer loyalty are defined as the endogenous latent variables. It was concluded that as the perception of customers with positive attitudes towards corporate image in relation to the quality of functional and technical services increases, their satisfaction and loyalty increase as well. Furthermore, it was estimated that a one-unit increase in customer satisfaction results in a 0.76-unit decrease in customer complaints and a 0.97-unit increase in customer loyalty.

Effects of environmental illiteracy and environmental awareness among middle school students on environmental behavior

This study proposes and employs a structural model to examine the effects of environmental literacy, environmental awareness, environmental attitudes, and environmental behavior among middle school students in Eskisehir on their purchase of environmentally friendly products. In the proposed structural model, environmental illiteracy and environmental awareness were the exogenous latent variables, while pro-environmental attitude, pro-environmental behavior, and the purchase of environmentally friendly products were the endogenous latent variables. The latent variable of environmental illiteracy did not have a statistically significant effect on environmental attitudes and purchase of environmentally friendly products, whereas environmental awareness had a positive effect on pro-environmental attitudes and the purchase of environmentally friendly products. These findings indicate that students with environmental awareness also develop positive attitudes toward the environment, and the presence of a positive attitude toward the environment leads them to display pro-environmental behaviors and adopt a positive attitude toward environmentally friendly products.

Consumer attitudes on the use of plastic and cloth bags

This paper examines consumer attitudes and behavior on the use of plastic and cloth bags in Eskisehir, Turkey. To this end, a structural equation model is proposed. Environmental consciousness regarding the use of plastic bags, social pressure, support for the banning of plastic bags, the intention to use cloth bags and behavior to reduce plastic bag use are employed as latent variables in the model. The intention to use cloth bags and the behavior to reduce the use of plastic bags are defined as endogenous latent variables in the structural model. In the conclusion of the study, it is identified that consumers who are environmentally conscious and feel under social pressure, tend to reduce the use of plastic bags and switch to using cloth bags.

Narcissistic Vulnerability and Grandiosity as Mediators Between Insecure Attachment and Future Eating Disordered Behaviors: A Prospective Analysis of Over 2,000 Freshmen.

This study aimed to build on existing literature by examining the potential mediating role of two variants of narcissism (grandiosity and vulnerability) in explaining part of the underlying mechanism by which insecure (avoidant and anxiety) attachment affects behavioral elements of eating pathology (dieting and bulimic behaviors). Longitudinal data collected from 2,055 freshman college students (52.2% women; mean age 18.34 years) were analysed using a latent variable structural equation modelling approach, controlling for initial levels of the endogenous (i.e., dependent) latent variables and holding body mass index, anxiety, stress, depression, and self-esteem levels as time-varying covariates. The effect of attachment anxiety on future bulimic behaviors was fully mediated through vulnerable narcissism (i.e., no significant direct link between attachment anxiety and bulimic behaviors), whereas grandiose narcissism fully mediated the association between attachment avoidance and future dieting behaviors. Dieting also predicted future bulimic behaviors and served as an additional (full) mediator between grandiose narcissism and bulimic behaviors. Differences in the strength of these associations across gender were not observed, and all indirect effects were statistically significant. Overall, the findings (a) seem to support the theoretical postulations linking different insecure attachment experiences to different narcissistic tendencies, (b) imply that specific insecure attachment patterns may pass through different mediating pathways (narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability) to specific behavioral elements of eating pathology (dieting and bulimic behaviors) regardless of gender, and (c) suggest that individuals with high grandiose narcissistic levels may not be protected from bulimic behaviors as previously indicated.

Temporal Information of Directed Causal Connectivity in Multi-Trial ERP Data using Partial Granger Causality

Partial Granger causality (PGC) has been applied to analyse causal functional neural connectivity after effectively mitigating confounding influences caused by endogenous latent variables and exogenous environmental inputs. However, it is not known how this connectivity obtained from PGC evolves over time. Furthermore, PGC has yet to be tested on realistic nonlinear neural circuit models and multi-trial event-related potentials (ERPs) data. In this work, we first applied a time-domain PGC technique to evaluate simulated neural circuit models, and demonstrated that the PGC measure is more accurate and robust in detecting connectivity patterns as compared to conditional Granger causality and partial directed coherence, especially when the circuit is intrinsically nonlinear. Moreover, the connectivity in PGC settles faster into a stable and correct configuration over time. After method verification, we applied PGC to reveal the causal connections of ERP trials of a mismatch negativity auditory oddball paradigm. The PGC analysis revealed a significant bilateral but asymmetrical localised activity in the temporal lobe close to the auditory cortex, and causal influences in the frontal, parietal and cingulate cortical areas, consistent with previous studies. Interestingly, the time to reach a stable connectivity configuration (~250–300 ms) coincides with the deviation of ensemble ERPs of oddball from standard tones. Finally, using a sliding time window, we showed higher resolution dynamics of causal connectivity within an ERP trial. In summary, time-domain PGC is promising in deciphering directed functional connectivity in nonlinear and ERP trials accurately, and at a sufficiently early stage. This data-driven approach can reduce computational time, and determine the key architecture for neural circuit modeling.

A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL FOR THE DESCRIPTION AND COMPARISON OF COMPLAINT BEHAVIOUR AFTER PURCHASING OF ELECTRONIC, FOOD AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS

This study was undertaken to investigate the complaint behaviour exhibited by university students due to dissatisfactions they experienced after purchasing electronic, food and textile products by using a proposed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). For this purpose, measurements are performed onan interval scale by using the 5-point Likert in order to measure the agreement level of 329 university students on attitude and behaviour statements oriented at complaints. There are 7 factors in the research model including alienation related with complaint (ALN) and controllability (CON) as exogenous latent variables; perceived value of complaint (VAL), the “complaint will be successful” faith (LKH), complaint intention (CI), explicit complaint behaviour (ECB) and implicit complaint behaviour (ICB) as endogenous latent variables. In this study, the effect of alienation of students from the company they shop and of their belief in controllability of the company on general complaint attitudes and complaint behaviours are tested with 13 hypotheses for electronic, food and textile products separately, and the obtained results are compared. In relation to the three groups, research findings have shown the same results for certain hypotheses and different results for certain other hypotheses.

구조식 모형에 대한 단계적 접근

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a widely used in social sciences such as education, business administration, and psychology. In SEM, the latent variable score is the estimate of the latent variable which cannot be observed directly. This study uses stagewise structural equation modeling(stagewise SEM; SSEM) by partitioning the whole model into several stages. The traditional estimation method minimizes the discrepancy function using the variance-covariance of all observed variables. This method can lead to inappropriate situations where exogenous latent variables may be affected by endogenous latent variables. The SSEM approach can avoid such situations and reduce the complexity of the whole SEM in estimating parameters.

Evaluation of the eight intelligences, and its relationship with organizational commitment: the case study of Islamic Azad University of Kermanshah province

Organizational commitment is an attitude. It is a mental state, which indicates a desire, need and obligation to continue employment in an organization. Interests and desires of the heart 's desire to continue to serve the organization and the individual's need for investment in the organization, and have continued to serve in it, and the religious obligation, responsibility or duty that the person is the finds himself obliged to stay another vision, commitment and a sense of belonging and attachment to the organization. The current study aimed to determine the relationship of eight intelligence and organizational commitment among employees of Azad university Kermanshah region, to conduct research, 256 people, the staff, simple random sampling, selection and testing of the eight intelligences Gardner Allen test organizational commitment and Meyer will run on it. After data collection, the research hypotheses using SPSS21 software and Amos21 assessed and evaluated. For the reliability study, Alfa Cronbach coefficient for the validity of face validity and construct validity using factor analysis were used. Pearson correlation methods, and analysis of variance for testing hypotheses, regression techniques and structural equation model was used for evaluation. The results show that, between the two variables (multiple intelligences and levels of employee engagement), there is a significant relationship. The relationship with the 0.19 level at least 0.95 is acceptable. Results of structural equation models and measurements show that the fit is appropriate. The theoretical model developed in the exogenous variables and the latent variables, such as multiple intelligences, as exogenous variables and organizational commitment variables as endogenous latent variables were defined. The chi-square as a bad indicator fitted with 82.147 was calculated.(RMSEA), equal to 0.060, goodness of fit index (CFI) against 0.981, and adjusted goodness of fit index (PCFI) versus 0.678, we can conclude that, when data were largely modeled measuring the structural supports.

Balancing public access and privacy in developed coastal zones: Factors influencing attitudes towards potential management options

The coastline of south eastern Norway is mostly privately owned and largely developed with homes and cabins. Public rights of access are permitted in what are defined as ‘outfield’ areas. However, public access may be difficult due to the location of developments, the blurred legal distinctions between outfield and infield areas and a lack of adequate recreational management. This project examined the social interactions between waterfront dwellers and local day visitors and the potential for improving recreational management in the study area of Saltnes on the Oslo Fjord in Norway. All households in Saltnes were surveyed (259 responses) to explore how local inhabitants (i.e. shoreline visitors, potential visitors and waterfront dwellers) perceived different potential management measures for improving private–public co-existence along the waterfront area. The study also investigated the extent to which the dichotomy between the need for access and the need for privacy influences attitudes towards different management measures. The multivariate structural equation model (SEM) contained two sets of manifest exogenous variables for respondent characteristics and four latent endogenous variables identifying four possible management options. The two options most favoured by respondents were Onsite information and Physical preparation, both of which were significantly more popular than Guiding boundaries and Access restrictions. The provision of Onsite information was regarded positively by both visitors and waterfront dwellers, and thus probably has the best potential for improving co-existence and co-operation between the two groups. Management implicationsWhen attempting to improve cooperation and co-existence in a potential conflict situation between local visitors and waterfront dwellers in shoreline areas, the following management recommendations should be considered:–A management solution should be based on local contextual knowledge.–Onsite information, identifying accessible and in-accessible areas along the shoreline are most preferred and accepted by visitors, potential visitors and dwellers alike.–Physical preparations, such as boardwalks, are well accepted by the visitors and potential visitors, but perceived more negatively by waterfront dwellers.–Guiding physical boundaries, like fences, and access restrictions cannot be recommended.–Planning processes should explicitly consider the requirements of potential visitors who are less acquainted with local conditions.–Private landowners should be integrated in the planning process at an early stage if planning measures are likely to affect their properties.

A Spline Regression Model for Latent Variables

Spline (or piecewise) regression models have been used in the past to account for patterns in observed data that exhibit distinct phases. The changepoint or knot marking the shift from one phase to the other, in many applications, is an unknown parameter to be estimated. As an extension of this framework, this research considers modeling the relation between endogenous and exogenous latent variables with a spline regression model, where each latent variable is measured by multiple observed indicators. Consequently, the spline regression model is modified to include a measurement model that explicitly expresses the relation of the observed variables to the latent constructs. Maximum likelihood estimation of the model is developed and executed on educational data to illustrate the utility of the model.

The Effect of Strategic Business Objectives Alignment with Information Management on Enhancing Small Organization Performance

Organization has an effective role in countries economy. Vicious competition has stressed managers to spend more time on finding the most appropriate management style that will make their companies survive in today's changing market. Now organizations has to think seriously about how to align its major business objectives with their information strategy , which will affect the financial performance for the organization at the market .To achieve alignment managers have to enforce company performance with both their strategies and their company processes . Alignment will have its direct effect on achieving the company goals and objectives and will enhance innovation and creativity at the organization atmosphere; also it will have a direct impact on enhancing decision making process by making it more decentralized. In this research will investigate the relationship between Strategy Alignment (SA), Information Management (IM) and Business Performance (BP) on small health care organization performance in Jordan. And treat (BP) as the exogenous latent variable, and IM, SA as endogenous latent variables. IM can influence BP directly or indirectly through the SA factor. In this research will try to prove the following theory: Aligning organization Strategy with Information management for small companies In JORDAN should have a significant effect on the organization performance.

Customer Retention Structural Model of Direct Selling Employees

Customer orientation of service employees is seen as important success factor for gaining customer retention in Gano Excel, a direct selling company in Malaysia. The objective of this study is to understand how customer orientation (CO) of service employee (SE) can affect the commitment (COM) and customer retention (CR). A structural model of all the variables was developed for the study. Each variable is measured using 7-point interval scale which is grouped into 3 exogenous latent variables: technical skills (3 items), social skills (3 items), and decision making authority (3 items); and two endogenous latent variables: commitment (3 items) and customer retention (3 items). The responses collected were 119 completed questionnaires whereby, 2 respondents were deleted due to outliers problem (D 2 ). The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through AMOS7. Confirmatory factor analysis of measurement models indicates adequate goodness of fit when 1 item was eliminated through modification indices verifications. Goodness of fit for the revised structural model shows adequate fit a(GFI=0.918, P-VALUE=0.359, RMSEA=0.021 and ratio (cmin/df) =1.053). This study has established four direct significant and positive causal effects: (1) technical skill and commitment; (2) social skill and commitment; (3) technical skill and customer retention and (4) commitment and customer retention. The findings are discussed in details.

VISITORS’ PERCEPTION OF CIREBON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION-BUILDING TO PROMOTE THE CITY

The problem identified in this study is how visitors’ perception and the image communication influenced the overall image of Cirebon as a tourist destination. This study was conducted by using structural equation modelling. The results of this study show that perception variable equation significantly affected the overall image variable, while the image communication variable did not significantly affect the overall image. On the other hand, the causal relationship equation shows that there is a significant relationship between the exogenous latent variable of perception and endogenous latent variable of Overall Image. While there is no relationship between exogenous latent variable of image Communication with endogenous variable of overall image. The result is expected to give recommendation to the local government to develop and promote tourism that at the end can put tourism to generate income for the city.DOI: 10.15408/etk.v11i1.1872

Bayesian Lasso for Semiparametric Structural Equation Models

There has been great interest in developing nonlinear structural equation models and associated statistical inference procedures, including estimation and model selection methods. In this paper a general semiparametric structural equation model (SSEM) is developed in which the structural equation is composed of nonparametric functions of exogenous latent variables and fixed covariates on a set of latent endogenous variables. A basis representation is used to approximate these nonparametric functions in the structural equation and the Bayesian Lasso method coupled with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is used for simultaneous estimation and model selection. The proposed method is illustrated using a simulation study and data from the Affective Dynamics and Individual Differences (ADID) study. Results demonstrate that our method can accurately estimate the unknown parameters and correctly identify the true underlying model.

Formulation and Application of the Hierarchical Generalized Random-Situation Random-Weight MIRID

The process-component approach has become quite popular for examining many psychological concepts. A typical example is the model with internal restrictions on item difficulty (MIRID) described by Butter (1994) and Butter, De Boeck, and Verhelst (1998). This study proposes a hierarchical generalized random-situation random-weight MIRID. The proposed model is more flexible for formulating endogenous latent variables within a multilevel framework, allowing the analysis of polytomous data with complex models (e.g., including item discriminations, random situations, random weights, and heteroskedasticity). The parameters in the proposed model can be estimated using the computer program WinBUGS, which adopts Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms. To illustrate the application of the proposed model, a real data set about guilt is analyzed and a comparison of MIRIDs for various conditions is conducted.

Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in Clustered Interorganizational Networks in Brazil

ABSTRACT This article analyzes whether firm innovation is influenced by the transfer of knowledge among cluster firms. To test the hypotheses, we directly estimated the measurement and the structural model parameters where cooperation, workforce mobility, and institutions were defined as manifest indicators of the latent exogenous variable knowledge transfer, modeled as a second-order construct. Firm innovation was defined as a single item endogenous latent variable. We found knowledge transfer to be related to the way firms are managed vis-à-vis (a) the role of institutions as discussion arenas; (b) the adaptability of the workforce; and (c) the indirect cooperation among firms.

Model building and estimation strategies for implementing the Balanced Scorecard in Health sector

Over last two decades, the concept of the Balanced Scorecard has had broad application by the health sector internationally, including Hospitals systems and national healthcare systems or organizations. However, the lack of literature on causal-effect relationships between different types of dimensions and indicators poses difficulty in conceptualising and implementing a quality evaluation system based on Balanced Scorecard. Methodologically, the most natural context for Balanced Scorecard conceptualization and estimation deals with Structural Equation Models with latent variables. Partial Least Squares Path Modelling has found increased applications, thanks to its ability to handle complex models. However, the lack of a global optimization criterion makes it difficult to evaluate this procedure. The aim of this article is to propose a methodological conceptualization of the Balanced Scorecard in a new context, as the Health sector, using a suitable statistical approach to estimate causal relationships among specified latent dimensions, together with a model building strategy, a necessary step when expert knowledge is too weak to build a robust and well suited model. Specifically, within the Structural Equation Models framework a two-step model building strategy is presented; the first step build the measurement models based on a clustering (around latent variables) technique and the second step build the structural model based on partial correlations and a procedure that selects the best model in terms of predictive power, measured by the mean of the R 2 for the endogenous latent variables. Finally, an application based on administrative archives of Lombardy region (Italy) illustrates the presented methodology.

Bayesian analysis for finite mixture in non-recursive non-linear structural equation models

This paper considers finite mixtures of structural equation models with non-linear effects of exogenous latent variables and non-recursive relations among endogenous latent variables. A Bayesian approach is developed to analyse this kind of model. In order to cope with the label switching problem, the permutation sampler is used to choose an appropriate identification constraint. Furthermore, a hybrid Markov chain Monte Carlo method that combines the Gibbs sampler, Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, and Langevin-Hastings algorithm is implemented to produce the Bayesian outputs. Finally, the proposed approach is illustrated by a simulation study and a real example.