Estimation Of Structural Equation Models Research Articles

Determinants of impulse buying behavior: The mediating role of positive emotions of minimarket retail consumers in Indonesia

Impulse buying is characterized by quick and unplanned purchasing decisions often triggered by perceived necessity or attractive offers. Minimarkets operate on a smaller scale than hypermarkets and supermarkets but significantly influence consumer behavior, mainly because they use various promotional strategies. This study aims to determine the effect of price discounts and store atmosphere on impulse buying behavior through positive emotions. This study was conducted in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, using a non-probability sampling approach; an online questionnaire was used to collect data from 180 participants through Google Forms. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and partial least square (PLS) estimation methods. The results showed that price discounts and store atmosphere significantly affect positive emotions and impulse buying (p < 0.05). Positive emotions significantly affect impulse buying (p < 0.05). In addition, price discounts and store atmosphere affect impulse buying through positive emotions (p < 0.05). This study uncovers the complex mechanisms underlying consumer responses in the convenience store landscape, providing important insights for retailers and marketers in navigating the evolving retail terrain. AcknowledgmentThis research was funded by the Revenue and Expenditure Budget of the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara following the assignment agreement letter in the context of implementing the Basic Research Program of the Revenue and Expenditure Budget of the Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra for the 2023 Fiscal Year, Number: 94/II.3- AU /UMSU-LP2M/C/2023.

Chinese consumers' psychology and behavior of the foods with nutrition claims based on AISAS model.

We analyzed the impact of nutrition claims on Chinese consumer psychology and behavior process based on the theoretical framework of AISAS (Attention-Interest-Search-Action-Share) model. To adopt questionnaires to collect gender, age, income and other basic information of adult residents and a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) to collect data on residents' attention to nutrition claims, interest in nutrition claims, search on nutrition claim information, purchasing behavior on food with nutrition claims, sharing information on food with nutrition claims. Then to study the relationship between the basic situation of residents and their attention, interest, search, food purchase behavior and sharing of nutrition claims by using exploratory factor analysis, reliability and validity test, structural equation modeling estimation and hypothesis testing. Chinese adults. Multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to collect the valid online questionnaire of 630 Chinese adults from Central, North, East, South, Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast China. Younger adults and those with higher household incomes exhibited heightened attention to nutrition claims. Furthermore, consumers' attention to nutrition claims could be transformed into food information sharing through interest, information search, and food purchase. Consumers' interest in food with nutrition claims could be transformed directly into food purchase. Consumers' search for related information could be directly transformed into food information sharing. Chinese consumers' age and household income could be included in the AISAS model for the foods with nutrition claims, and the consumers' action and share could transform from their interest and search.

Drivers of consumers’ intention to adopt sustainable healthy dietary patterns: evidence from China

IntroductionIn line with the shift towards sustainable consumption, sustainable healthy dietary patterns (SHDP) have received considerable attention, but no study has examined Chinese consumers’ intention to adopt SHDP.MethodsBased on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study integrated health consciousness, environmental concerns, and past eating behaviour to construct an expanded TPB framework for analyzing the factors influencing Chinese consumers’ intention to adopt SHDP. The mediating role of attitude between perceived value and consumers’ intention to adopt SHDP was also analyzed. The study empirically tested the research model using structural equation modelling estimation, based on the data collected from 402 local consumers in Wuxi, China.Results and discussionThe results showed that attitude, perceived behavioural control, health consciousness, and past eating behaviuor positively and significantly influenced consumers’ intention to adopt SHDP, whereas perceived value indirectly influenced adoption intention through attitude. Subjective norms and environmental concerns had no significant influence on adoption intention. Based on these findings, interventions through dietary education and information campaigns are recommended to enhance consumers’ value awareness and attitudes towards SHDP. Interventions, such as nudging, should be designed to enhance consumers’ perceived behavioural control and dietary practises. The findings of this study provide important insights for the development of dietary change intervention strategies.

Do tax burdens and currency outside banks drive economic development? Empirics from Ghana

PurposeSome African policymakers have turned their attention towards electronic transaction levy (e-levy) to maximise tax revenues in recent years due to the inability to meet revenue targets. However, some argue that the implementation of an e-levy will increase the tax burden (TB) and the currency outside banks (COB). Primarily, this paper examined the effects of the TB and COB on economic development as well as the impact of institutional quality on moderating the nexus.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used structural equation modelling (SEM) and maximum likelihood (ML) estimation techniques on quarterised data from 1996 to 2020.FindingsThe results show that the TB negatively impacts gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and urbanisation but positively affects the Economic Freedom of the World Index (EFWI). The COB impacts EFWI, GDP per capita and urbanisation positively. Institutional quality moderates the TB and the COB, establishing positive relationships with the economic development indicators.Practical implicationsThe findings strongly imply that the arguments that TB and COB are catalysts for tax evasion and corruption lack substantial empirical evidence.Originality/valueThe examination of the econometric impact of the COB on economic development is one of the first studies in the field. The paper recommends that to drive economic development and accelerate sustainable development goals (SDGs) achievement, tax revenues should be channelled into the productive sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

The Quality of Use of Learning Management Systems in Ugandan Public Universities: Do user-perceived performance and motivation to learn really matter?

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound global teaching and learning management shifts. Numerous higher education institutions in Uganda turned to Learning Management Systems (LMS) to adapt. Despite the contemporary digital age and the notable increase in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investments in universities, LMS in Ugandan public universities have remained unpopular. Hence, an in-depth examination is needed, focusing on users’ perceived performance and its influence on the LMS quality of use. It also considered the mediating role of motivation to learn in this intricate relationship. The research methodology employed was quantitative, utilising a cross-sectional design. A total of 707 participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling process, yielding a response rate of 93%. The hypotheses formulated for this investigation were rigorously tested using Stata software, employing structural equation modelling estimation techniques. The findings revealed a significant influence of users’ perceived performance on the LMS quality of use. However, contrary to the initially hypothesised mediation effects, the indirect influence of perceived performance on the LMS quality of use, as mediated by motivation to learn, experienced a reduction from an initial 0.65 to .034. The study’s conclusions underscore the enduring importance of perceived performance as a pivotal factor in shaping the quality of LMS utilisation. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge that the interplay between perceived performance and motivation to learn in mediating this relationship is more complex and multifaceted than originally anticipated. This nuanced understanding of the dynamics involved in resource-constrained environments offers fresh insights into educational technology adoption and adaptation.

Моделирование влияния качества электронных услуг и культуры знаний на результативность сотрудников: SEM-подход к анализу данных по отрасли недвижимости в Китае

Entering the era of digitalization, the real estate industry unlocked the bricks-and-clicks model of operation. The virtual-and-real interaction has led to new demands for service quality from a new generation of customers, and e-service quality (ES-QUAL) is a response to this demand and has attracted the attention of scholars and practitioners specializing in the sales and service sectors of the real estate industry. The study investigated the relationships between the implementation of ES-QUAL, knowledge culture, and employees’ performance from an internal perspective, while emphasizing a specific Chinese research context. A total of 602 responses, received from brokers, front-line salespeople, and sub-branch managers, were collected through a web-based questionnaire survey from the Shanghai branch of the largest real estate brokerage company in China, called Lianjia. A multi-method approach of the structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping estimation was employed to test the hypotheses and evaluate the validly and reliability of the data. The results indicated that ES-QUAL and knowledge culture positively influenced employee performance, and the direct effect of ES-QUAL on knowledge culture was stronger than on employee performance. Additionally, knowledge culture was found to be partially mediating the relationship between ES-QUAL and employee performance. The study provided managerial insights and discussed strategies for implementing ES-QUAL to achieve desired organizational performance by fostering a learning-oriented culture.

Sequential link in depression, sleep and cognition: Longitudinal evidence from a serial multiple mediation analysis of older adults in China

BackgroundA growing body of literature examines the link between depression, sleep and cognition, but little is known regarding the extent to which this relationship holds among older adults over time. ObjectiveThis study examines how sleep duration mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive performance, by utilizing partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) estimation. MethodsThis study utilizes the 2013–18 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) dataset, of which 3557 participants over the age of 50 satisfied inclusion criteria. Depressive symptoms and cognitive performance are measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); sleep duration is assessed using the adapted Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A serial multiple mediation model was built to assess how depressive symptoms in 2013 and in 2018 are related, in addition to assessing their links with sleep duration and cognitive performance. FindingsResults indicate that early depression positively predicts depression progression (std.β = 0.564, 95 % Confidence Interval: 0.534, 0.594), but negatively predicts sleep duration (std.β = −0.081, 95 % CI: −0.128, −0.034) and cognitive performance (std.β = −0.118, 95 % CI: −0.165, −0.072). The sequential indirect effect of early depression operating via depression progression and sleep duration is evaluated to be −0.083 (95 % CI: −0.110, −0.056), representing as much as 41.29 % of the total effect. ConclusionsEarly depressive symptoms are directly associated with increased depressive symptoms and shortened sleep, which are identified as key channels through which early depression is linked with worsened cognition. Clinical implicationsMany older adults may underestimate the adverse costs of early depression, since its net effects on cognition could be channeled indirectly and discretely via depression progression and sleep, which is worth highlighting in health guidelines and clinical recommendations.

L0 and Lp Loss Functions in Model-Robust Estimation of Structural Equation Models

The Lp loss function has been used for model-robust estimation of structural equation models based on robustly fitting moments. This article addresses the choice of the tuning parameter ε that appears in the differentiable approximations of the nondifferentiable Lp loss functions. Moreover, model-robust estimation based on the Lp loss function is compared with a recently proposed differentiable approximation of the L0 loss function and a direct minimization of a smoothed version of the Bayesian information criterion in regularized estimation. It turned out in a simulation study that the L0 loss function slightly outperformed the Lp loss function in terms of bias and root mean square error. Furthermore, standard errors of the model-robust SEM estimators were analytically derived and exhibited satisfactory coverage rates.

The influence of school climate on teachers' job satisfaction: The mediating role of teachers' self-efficacy.

Improving the job satisfaction of vocational education teachers (VET) is necessary for maintaining the stability of the vocational education teaching force and is an essential support for enhancing the professional attractiveness and ensuring the quality of VET. Unlike previous studies, firstly, in terms of groups, the particular group of teachers in this study focuses on VET, which in reality is often overlooked compared to other groups of teachers due to the low level of recognition of vocational education (VE) in China. Secondly, this phenomenon is more prominent and less researched regionally in economically underdeveloped areas due to the uneven and disparate economic development between the East and West of China. In terms of sample size, previous studies have lacked large samples, making it difficult to obtain convincing and realistic results. Finally, most previous studies considered teachers' job satisfaction (TJS) in terms of external or internal factors alone. However, this study considers a combination of the external factor of the school climate (SC) in which VET works and the internal factor of teachers' self-efficacy (TSE) to explore the relationship with TJS and its impact. Based on data from a survey of 1035 teachers in China, a structural equation model estimation method was used to explore and analyze the impact of SC and TSE on their TJS and the specific role of the relationship. The research found that VET-perceived SC is positively predicting TJS; VET-perceived SC is positively predicting TSE; TSE is positively predicting TJS; TSE significantly mediates the relationship between SC and TJS. This study provides a theoretical perspective that integrates the external organizational influences of SC and introduces the internal psychological factor of TSE as a mediating variable to understand TJS. In practice, it helps raise the importance of VET and provides empirical data and intellectual support to the relevant government departments in improving TJS.

The Effects of Leadership on the Organizational Culture: The Case of the National Institute of Social Security

Research objective: Leadership and culture are critical dimensions to understanding organizational dynamics. This article analyses the effect of leadership on organizational culture at the National Institute of Social Security in Brazil. The study also identifies the predominant types of leadership through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the type of organizational culture through the Competing Values Framework.Theoretical framework: Models of leadership and organizational culture widely used in the international literature support the article. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire is a model composed of constructs about leadership styles and leadership outcomes. The Competing Values Framework is a model that provides a classification of corporate culture and values.Methodology: This study is based on the survey as a research method. Data collection includes 153 professionals from the National Institute of Social Security. For data processing, descriptive and exploratory analyzes were performed. Structural equation modelling and partial least squares estimation were also used in the research method.Results: The results reveal that leadership influences culture through a positive effect relationship with statistical significance. The results also show the predominance of the transformational leadership style and the clan culture in the case studied.Originality: The article originally contributed by exploring the relationship between forms of leadership and organizational culture in a public organization. The study uses new constructs for the national literature by incorporating the models of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and Competing Values Framework.Theoretical and practical contributions: The article contributes to the advancement of theory in Public Administration by showing the influence of forms of leadership on organizational culture. The study also has practical and managerial implications as it indicates how forms of leadership should be developed to create collective identities. Keywords: Leadership, Organizational culture, Structural Equations, Public administration, Non-profit organization.

Revisiting energy transition projects future with "coal-to-gas" energy projects: assessing through life-cycle project cost method.

This research aims to evaluate the life-cycle project costs associated with "coal-to-gas" energy transition projects in the context of the present energy environment. Determining the possible role of such initiatives in attaining a sustainable and economical energy future is at the heart of the problem statement. Four major coal seam gas (CSG) projects have affected the local population in China. The study applied structural equation modeling (SEM) and quantile process estimation (QPE) techniques. In this piece, we analyze the methods used to calculate the societal costs of such populations. The people of impacted regions are concerned about increasing economic disparity, have poor trust in the future, and are experiencing a falling standard of living, according to a cross-sectional survey (n = 428) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Most people are worried about the future of their town (reported by 77.3% of respondents), the long-term effects on groundwater (reported by 77.4% of respondents), and the growing cost of living (reported by 83.4% of respondents). The study encompasses the project's life cycle, from conception and construction to decommissioning and site restoration. The findings indicate that although coal-to-gas projects may provide short-term benefits, they may not be economically sustainable in the long term. Factors such as rising natural gas prices, prospective carbon taxes, and decommissioning and site restoration costs can significantly influence the overall project expense. Hence, policymakers and energy companies must carefully evaluate the life-cycle cost of such projects before investing in them as an interim solution.

The effect of organizational agility on crisis management process and organizational resilience: Health sector example

This study aims to use a structural equation model to reveal the effect of organizational agility on crisis management and organizational resilience in health organizations. The study was conducted with a sample of 1208 healthcare professionals working in different positions in public health institutions in Istanbul, located in the Marmara region of Türkiye, using the correlational research design, which is one of the quantitative research methods. Structural Equation Model (SEM) estimation results revealed that organizational agility had a positive, significant effect on crisis management (β = 0.592, p < 0.01) and organizational resilience (β = 0.643, p < 0.01). Considering the coefficient values of organizational agility for the study sample, organizational agility has a greater effect on organizational resilience than on crisis management. A positive, significant relationship was found at 55% (r = 0.550, p = 0.000) between organizational agility and crisis management, at 56.6% (r = 0.566, p = 0.000) between organizational agility and organizational resilience, and at 67.1% (r = 0.671, p = 0.000) between crisis management and organizational resilience. The results of Sensitivity Analysis in Structural Equation Modeling showed that there was a high sensitivity between organizational agility and crisis management and a stronger correlation between organizational agility and resilience. The study concludes with recommendations that are expected to contribute to the literature and improve organizational agility, organizational resilience, and the crisis management process in health organizations.

Entrepreneurial motivations and business performance: A study of female online microbusiness owners.

This study aims to examine the correlation between various types of entrepreneurial motivations and the corporate performance of self-employed micro-businesses operated by women in China. Through the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) estimation on a sample of 160 female entrepreneurs, our findings reveal that female entrepreneurs driven by pull motivation prioritize non-financial performance as their primary goal. Conversely, those driven by push motivation exhibit a greater emphasis on financial performance. Furthermore, the cross-group analysis indicates that a high level of motivation among necessity-driven female microbusiness entrepreneurs contributes to achieving a high level of financial performance, whereas a high level of motivation among opportunity-based female microbusiness entrepreneurs does not significantly influence non-financial performance. The implications of these findings for research and policy development pertaining to Chinese female online microbusinesses are also discussed.

Uncovering risk professionals' intentions to use artificial intelligence: empirical evidence from the Italian setting

PurposeThis study aims to ascertain the intentions of risk managers to use artificial intelligence in performing their tasks by examining the factors affecting their motivation.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs an integrated theoretical framework that merges the third version of the technology acceptance model 3 (TAM3) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) based on the application of the structural equation model with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) estimation on data gathered through a Likert-based questionnaire disseminated among Italian risk managers. The survey reached 782 people working as risk professionals, but only 208 provided full responses. The final response rate was 26.59%.FindingsThe findings show that social influence, perception of external control and risk perception are the main predictors of risk professionals' intention to use artificial intelligence. Moreover, performance expectancy (PE) and effort expectancy (EE) of risk professionals in relation to technology implementation and use also appear to be reasonably reliable predictors.Research limitations/implicationsThus, the study offers a precious contribution to the debate on the impact of automation and disruptive technologies in the risk management domain. It complements extant studies by tapping into cultural issues surrounding risk management and focuses on the mostly overlooked dimension of individuals.Originality/valueYet, thanks to its quite novel theoretical approach; it also extends the field of studies on artificial intelligence acceptance by offering fresh insights into the perceptions of risk professionals and valuable practical and policymaking implications.

Determinants of Helmet Use Intention Among E-Bikers in China: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Health Belief Model, and the Locus of Control

Nearly half of electric biker (e-biker)-related crashes caused head injuries that could be preventable by wearing a helmet. This study proposes an integrated Theory of Planned Behavior, Health Belief Model, and locus of control framework to investigate the underlying psychological factors influencing helmet use intention using survey data in Shanghai. Structural equation model estimation and multiple group analyses were conducted to understand these heterogeneous impacting factors. Health motivation, perceived behavioral control, attitude, cues to action, and internality were identified as five key factors affecting the intention to use a helmet. Subgroups of e-bikers based on their age, education, income, and driver’s license were more susceptible to targeted helmet use strategies for some psychological factors compared to their counterparts. Study insights shed light on the one-size-fits-all strategy limitations and may assist policymakers in designing behavioral interventions and safety education schemes to promote helmet use among e-bikers in China.

The Influence of Teacher Clarity and Real-World Applications on Students’ Achievement in Modern Algebra

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;This study tested hypotheses of a hypothetical model determining the influence of teacher clarity and real-world applications while teaching group theory concepts on students’ achievement in modern algebra. The data collected from 139 undergraduate students were analyzed by regression analysis using Stata14’s structural equation model building and estimation. The path regression analysis of the model using SEM model building and estimation confirmed the research hypotheses. First, the utilization of real-world application problems while teaching group theory concepts has a significant influence on students’ achievement in modern algebra. Second, the clear presentation of group theory concepts by the teacher has a significant influence on students’ achievement in modern algebra. Finally, both teachers’ clear presentation of group theory concepts and utilization of its real-world applications have a significant influence on students’ achievement in modern algebra.&lt;/p&gt;

The Effect of Optimizing Digital and Information Literacy in Writing Scientific Articles on Students' Critical Thinking Skills

Writing scientific articles that are integrated with learning biology is still rarely done. On the other hand, students' critical thinking skills need to be developed. One of the efforts is to develop students' thinking skills by writing scientific articles by optimizing digital and information literacy use. Scientific articles are used as student assignments in learning conservation and environmental knowledge through the group investigation learning model. This study aims to determine the effect of writing scientific articles through optimizing digital and information literacy on students' critical thinking skills. The method used in this research is quantitative with a non-experimental explanatory design. Data collection using a questionnaire with a Five Point Likert Scale. There were 43 respondents, of which 100 percent of the completed questionnaire was usable for further analysis. Data analysis in this study used a structural equation model with a partial less square analysis technique (SEM-PLS) using smart-pls 3.2.7 software at a significance level of 5% to predict the hypothesis. Structural Equation Modeling Estimation Shows that Digital Literacy, Information Literacy, and Article Writing Affect Students' Critical Thinking Skills. These findings indicate that writing scientific articles through optimizing digital and information literacy has an effect on students' critical thinking skills. Therefore, writing scientific articles through optimizing digital and information literacy is one method to improve students' critical thinking skills. The implication in the world of education, writing scientific articles through optimizing digital and information literacy can be used as an alternative task for students to improve critical thinking skills.

Role of artificial intelligence in moderating the innovative financial process of the banking sector: a research based on structural equation modeling

This study seeks to find the moderating role of AI in the association between a bank’s innovative financial process and the bank’s market share. The data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The estimations were performed using structural equation modeling estimation techniques such as the measurement model, outer loading, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and SEM estimations. The initial estimations indicated factor as well as construct reliability and validity. The study concluded that an innovative financial process plays a vital role in enhancing the bank’s market share. However, artificial intelligence could not significantly moderate the relationship. The policymakers in the banking industry of Pakistan need to consider the up-gradation in the system of their financial process by innovation and artificial intelligence usage awareness in their existing staff as well their banking customers. Future research may include a similar model for Islamic as well as commercial banks in a comparative model. Additionally, future research may also include more banks as innovative financial institutions to get a greater sample size for a possible influence of artificial intelligence.

A Note on the Connection Between Trek Rules and Separable Nonlinear Least Squares in Linear Structural Equation Models

We show that separable nonlinear least squares (SNLLS) estimation is applicable to all linear structural equation models (SEMs) that can be specified in RAM notation. SNLLS is an estimation technique that has successfully been applied to a wide range of models, for example neural networks and dynamic systems, often leading to improvements in convergence and computation time. It is applicable to models of a special form, where a subset of parameters enters the objective linearly. Recently, Kreiberg et al. (Struct Equ Model Multidiscip J 28(5):725–739, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2020.1835484) have shown that this is also the case for factor analysis models. We generalize this result to all linear SEMs. To that end, we show that undirected effects (variances and covariances) and mean parameters enter the objective linearly, and therefore, in the least squares estimation of structural equation models, only the directed effects have to be obtained iteratively. For model classes without unknown directed effects, SNLLS can be used to analytically compute least squares estimates. To provide deeper insight into the nature of this result, we employ trek rules that link graphical representations of structural equation models to their covariance parametrization. We further give an efficient expression for the gradient, which is crucial to make a fast implementation possible. Results from our simulation indicate that SNLLS leads to improved convergence rates and a reduced number of iterations.

Understanding the effect of organizational innovation environment and customer participation in virtual communities on customer creativity: A study of mediating and moderating influences.

The importance of enterprises significantly improving their innovation performance by working closely with customers throughout the innovation process has been emphasized in recent literature. However, the role of organizational innovation environment in customer creativity and the impact of customer knowledge matching on the innovation environment are not sufficiently explored. Based on the Social cognitive theory and Flow theory, his investigate the factors that influence enterprise innovation performance in the context of customer participation in innovation, as well as how businesses can foster an online innovation environment that fosters customer creativity. The mixed-methods study, which combines qualitative and quantitative research, is used to create the scale item that measures the study's main variables. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping estimation was performed on survey data collected via questionnaire from 392 consumers who participated in online service innovation in an online virtual brand community between June 2018 and May 2019. The study obtain the following main results. First, the innovative environment of customer online participation in service innovation fosters customer creativity. Second, two mediation interactions exist: creative self-efficacy and positive emotions, both of which partially mediate the relationship between customer creativity and the innovation environment. Third, while customer knowledge matching influences the intermediary effect of creative self-efficacy on innovation environment and customer creativity, it has no effect on the intermediary effect of positive emotion on innovation environment and customer creativity.