Structural Equation Modeling Analysis Research Articles

The Interrelationship Between Chinese English as a Foreign Language Teachers' Immediacy and Clarity With Learners' Boredom.

Since boredom significantly contributes to diminished motivation among learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), there is a need to identify factors that influence boredom. Amidst various elements that can precipitate students' boredom, educational-related concepts have garnered particular attention, with the learning environment emerging as a chief focal point due to its consequential importance to learners. Specifically, the role of teachers' clarity and immediacy in manipulating learners' performance, enthusiasm, and involvement has been widely recognized. Consequently, in this study, we scrutinized the impact of EFL teachers' immediacy and clarity in mitigating learners' boredom. To this end, we collected data from 383 Chinese students through the administration of three scales measuring their perceptions of teacher clarity, teacher immediacy, and learners' boredom. We identified significant associations between teachers' clarity and immediacy and learners' boredom. In Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis, both teacher immediacy and clarity were robust predictors of students' boredom, with about 48% of the variance in students' boredom accounted for by teachers' immediacy, and 53% of this variance attributed to teachers' clarity. We elaborate upon the implications of these findings in our discussion.

Customer mistreatment and employees’ coping strategies: A Meta-SEM analysis

Despite the numerous studies on customer mistreatment, our understanding of the effectiveness of coping strategies for customer mistreatment remains limited. This research provides a meta-analytic structural equation modeling (meta-SEM) analysis to explore the distinctive coping types that employees may use when encountering customer mistreatment, as well as the subsequent outcomes. Drawing on the regulatory focus theory and the coping toward customer mistreatment, we categorize various coping strategies into three types (i.e., goal-oriented promotive coping, confrontation-oriented promotive coping, and preventive coping), and propose that these coping types have differential relationships with outcomes. Through a meta-SEM analysis based on 143 articles and 155 independent samples (N = 44,378), we found that these three coping types significantly mediated the mistreatment–outcomes relationships, and that goal-oriented promotive coping was a more beneficial type of coping. This research provides significant implications for employees and organizations to effectively cope with customer mistreatment.

Structural equation modeling analysis of health belief model-based determinants of COVID-19 preventive behavior of academic staff: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionDespite COVID-19 being highly contagious and spreading to several countries, the university community has overlooked prevention measures. For more than five decades, the Health Belief Model (HBM) has been a widely used conceptual framework in health behavior. structural equation modeling(SEM) analysis is an advanced statistical method capable of rectifying failures of the basic models and showing complex relations Thus this study aimed to determine the magnitude of COVID-19 prevention behavior and identify its associated factors using HBM and SEM analysis.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among academic staff of the University of Gondar in Ethiopia from April 10 to May 10/2021. Daniel Soper’s sample size calculator was used to determine the sample size. Proportional allocation to each campus followed by a simple random sampling technique was employed to select study subjects. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Structural equation modeling analysis was employed to show the relationship between health belief model constructs and their effect on preventive behavior.ResultA total of 602 academic staff participated. The magnitude of good COVID-19 preventive behavior was 24.8%. The HBM explained 55% of the variance in preventive behavior. Perceived barriers (β = -0.37, p < 0.05), self-efficacy (β = 0.32, p < 0.05), perceived susceptibility (β = 0.23, p < 0.05), and perceived benefit (β = 0.16, p < 0.05) were the direct significant predictors of COVID 19 prevention behavior.Conclusiononly a quarter of the academic staff have good COVID-19 preventive behavior. The HBM explained a great amount of variance in preventive behavior and Perceived barriers, benefits, susceptibility, and self-efficacy significantly associated with prevention behavior. Carefully planned intervention that considers those significant perceptions should be designed and implemented to raise COVID-19 prevention behavior.

Tourists’ ethically responsible participation in animal-based tourism: A configurational impact assessment

Ethical concerns about animal-based tourism are raising ongoing attention from the international community, and investigation of tourists’ ethically responsible behaviors in animal eco-tourism is limited. This study investigated the formation of ethically responsible behaviors by integrating constituents from the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, the norm-activation model (NAM), and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), including biospheric value, altruistic value, ethical beliefs, awareness of ethical issues, ascribed responsibility, personal norm, attitude, social norm, and behavioral intentions with regard to animal-based tourism. The cultural involvement of Confucian harmony and media coverage were found to positively influence awareness of ethical issues. The proposed research framework was further optimized by identifying a moderator, described as perceptions of animal protection. Methodologically, along with structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, this study also used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to evaluate asymmetric configurations (causal recipes) and necessary conditions for predicting different levels of behavioral intentions in animal-based tourism.

Leveraging gamification for tourism marketing activities: Toward a comprehensive conceptual model

Gamification has become one of the most effective ways to generate customer engagement. However, there needs to be more structured research on the drivers of the adoption and sustained use of gamification in travel and tourism research. Drawing upon the uses and gratifications theory and the technology acceptance model, this research examines the individual motivational drivers for adopting gamification in the context of tourism services. We employed a combination of partial least squares—structural equation modeling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis on the data gathered from 680 users of various online travel agencies. Our findings show that individual motivational dimensions of uses and gratifications significantly influence perceived usefulness and ease of use in gamified marketing activities. Our analysis demonstrates five configurations leading to a high level of adoption of gamified marketing activities. This study extends the use of gamification in the tourism industry, offering insights into enhancing customer motivations for adopting and effectively utilizing game mechanics and dynamics in marketing activities. Furthermore, through a novel framework, this study advances the uses and gratification theory at the intersection of gamification research and tourism literature.

Impact of expertise in standardization on business internationalization

ABSTRACT The European Union (EU) Strategy on Standardization stressed that Europe’s competitiveness will depend on how successful European actors are in standardization at the international level. It follows that companies with strong standardization-related skills and competencies may be more competitive in such competitions and eventually become more internationalized. Although the interplay between expertise in standardization and business internationalization seems to be evident, the literature still lacks a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the expertise in standardization on business internationalization. The study aims to address three research questions: (1) How does the expertise in standardization impact business internationalization? (2) How does the company size moderate the relationship between expertise in standardization and business internationalization? and (3) How does the country of origin moderate the relationship between expertise in standardization and business internationalization? We conducted a survey among owners and managers of European companies and applied the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis. Our results showed what is changing and what benefits European companies are not only standardization-related competencies; experience in developing standards makes a difference. Large companies from countries more active in standardization will create more advanced market entry strategies and use export and non-export entry modes more intensively.

Understanding the predictors of health professionals' intention to use electronic health record system: extend and apply UTAUT3 model

BackgroundThe implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is a critical challenge, particularly in low-income countries, where behavioral intention plays a crucial role. To address this issue, we conducted a study to extend and apply the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 3 (UTAUT3) model in predicting health professionals' behavioral intention to use EHR systems.MethodsA quantitative research approach was employed among 423 health professionals in Southwest Ethiopia. We assessed the validity of the proposed model through measurement and structural model statistics. Analysis was done using SPSS AMOS version 23. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, and mediation and moderation effects were evaluated. The associations between exogenous and endogenous variables were examined using standardized regression coefficients (β), 95% confidence intervals, and p-values, with a significance level of p-value < 0.05.ResultsThe proposed model outperformed previous UTAUT models, explaining 84.5% (squared multiple correlations (R2) = 0.845) of the variance in behavioral intention to use EHR systems. Personal innovativeness (β = 0.215, p-value < 0.018), performance expectancy (β = 0.245, p-value < 0.001), and attitude (β = 0.611, p-value < 0.001) showed significant associations to use EHR systems. Mediation analysis revealed that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and technology anxiety had significant indirect effects on behavioral intention. Furthermore, moderation analysis indicated that gender moderated the association between social influence, personal innovativeness, and behavioral intention.ConclusionThe extended UTAUT3 model accurately predicts health professionals' intention to use EHR systems and provides a valuable framework for understanding technology acceptance in healthcare. We recommend that digital health implementers and concerned bodies consider the comprehensive range of direct, indirect, and moderating effects. By addressing personal innovativeness, performance expectancy, attitude, hedonic motivation, technology anxiety, and the gender-specific impact of social influence, interventions can effectively enhance behavioral intention toward EHR systems. It is crucial to design gender-specific interventions that address the differences in social influence and personal innovativeness between males and females.

Investigation of consumer cross-border e-commerce shopping in China using the theory of EAM

Given that China's cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) industry has garnered significant attention from various overseas suppliers, this study aims to explore the CBEC shopping patterns of domestic Chinese consumers. The objective of the study is to integrate the theory of the e-commerce acceptance model (EAM) and multi-target trust to forecast the cross-border e-commerce shopping (CBECS) behavior of domestic Chinese consumers. PLS-based structural equation modeling analysis indicates that the CBECS intention is significantly influenced by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk. With regard to multi-target trust, seller trust impacts perceived risk and ease of use, whereas logistics trust influences perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Platform trust influences both seller trust and logistics trust. These results contribute to the advancement of CBEC literature and practices.

Enhancing user engagement and loyalty in online travel agents: a gamification approach

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effects of gamification features on brand engagement dimensions in online travel agents (OTAs), specifically brand awareness and loyalty. Design/methodology/approach The proposed model is empirically evaluated through an online survey of 406 Indonesian OTA users. Partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis was used to assess the model. Findings The findings reveal that gamification boosts emotional and social brand engagement, while achievement improves cognitive brand engagement. Cognitive brand engagement only affects brand loyalty, excluding brand awareness; however, emotional and social brand engagement substantially impact brand awareness and loyalty. Originality/value This study addresses the gap in the limited empirical studies on gamification in the tourism and hospitality industries, with a particular focus on OTAs.

Analysis of the determinants of service quality in the multimodal public transport system of Bhopal city using structural equation modelling (SEM) and factor analysis

The service quality of multimodal public transport system plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall efficiency and sustainability of urban mobility and the seamless integration of transportation. This study evaluates the determinants of service quality in the multimodal public transport system of Bhopal, India, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Factor Analysis, Subgroup Analysis, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). A detailed survey of passengers identified six latent variables: reliability, comfort, safety, accessibility, information, and customer service. SEM analysis revealed significant positive relationships between all six factors and passenger satisfaction, with reliability (β = 0.358, p < 0.001) and comfort having the strongest influence. Subgroup analysis showed variations in the importance of service quality factors among different age groups, genders, and usage frequencies. The IPA grid identified comfort and accessibility as priority areas for improvement. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing these factors to enhance passenger satisfaction and promote sustainable urban mobility in developing countries. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers and transit authorities to effectively improve service quality and meet passengers’ satisfaction in multimodal public transport systems.

Health tourism in Malaysia: understanding the drivers of satisfaction and revisit intention

ABSTRACT Medical tourism is a dynamic industry that seeks to improve satisfaction and foster loyalty among Arab medical tourists. This study delves into the complex experience of medical tourism among Arab patients in Malaysia by using an integrated analytical framework that examines the combined effects of quality perception and recovery experience on tourists’ satisfaction and intentions to revisit. Utilising a cross-sectional design with purposive sampling, the study collected responses from 432 Arab patients, employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Conditions Analysis (NCA) to analyze the data. The findings reveal that perceived quality, especially in healthcare services and post-treatment care, significantly enhances tourist satisfaction, which directly influences their intentions to revisit. Additionally, trust emerged as a critical factor that not only strengthens the relationship between satisfaction and revisit intentions but also acts as a necessary condition for achieving high satisfaction levels. This research contributes to tourism literature by detailing the specific pathways through which service quality and recovery experience impact tourist satisfaction and revisit intentions. It provides practical insights for medical tourism providers to optimise service delivery and trust-building strategies, thereby enhancing Malaysia's reputation as a premier medical tourism destination.

Understanding the antecedents of Chinese people’s pro-environmental behavior: the role of self-construal and news attention

This study aims to extend the attitude-intention-behavior model by adding news attention and interdependent self-construal as antecedents to understand the pro-environmental behavior of Chinese people. Results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis based on web survey data of 715 Chinese individuals show that interdependent self-construal significantly and positively affected individuals’ attention to environmental news messages on new media platforms. Such news attention then positively affected their attitude toward pro-environmental behavior. In turn, pro-environmental behavioral attitude positively affected their pro-environmental behavioral intention. Finally, individuals’ pro-environmental behavioral intention positively led to their actual pro-environmental behavior. Besides, the results demonstrated that interdependent self-construal also significantly and positively affects individuals’ intention of engaging in pro-environmental behavior, but little evidence was found to support the significant association between interdependent self-construal and pro-environmental attitude. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis of Generative AI Chatbots Adoption Among Students and Educators in Higher Education

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping educational paradigms, this study explores AI-based chatbot adoption in higher education among students and educators. Employing a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach, the research focuses on developing and validating a comprehensive model to understand the multifaceted factors impacting the acceptance and use of these chatbots. The methodology integrates an extensive literature review, construction of a theoretical model, administration of a detailed questionnaire to a representative sample from the higher education sector, coupled with advanced SEM techniques for data analysis and interpretation. The SEM analysis validates the model's robustness and highlights the relationships between several key factors affecting users’ perspectives and chatbots adoption. Results reveal a predominantly positive perception towards AI-chatbots among both students and educators, underscoring the potential to substantially enrich their educational journey. However, it also uncovers critical concerns pertaining to trust, privacy, response bias, and information accuracy. Moreover, the study offers valuable insights into how moderators such as technological proficiency, user roles, and gender influence the adoption model relationships. This emphasizes the need for customizing AI-chatbots deployment to meet the diverse needs of users effectively. Contributing a robust framework for understanding users’ perceptions towards AI-chatbots and their adoption patterns, this study offers actionable insights for educational leaders, policymakers, and technology developers. It also lays the groundwork for future research, including longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term impact of these technologies, investigations into their effect on learning outcomes, and explorations of the ethical and privacy considerations involved.

Linking EFL students’ psychological needs to engagement in Informal Digital Learning of English: a structural equation modeling analysis

EFL students are increasingly engaging in self-directed English learning in extramural digital settings (Informal Digital Learning of English; IDLE). However, effective strategies for boosting IDLE engagement are largely unexplored. The Basic Psychological Needs (BPNs) theory, a fundamental element of the Self-Determination Theory, proposes that fulfilling three core needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—is crucial for human well-being and optimal functioning. Hence, this study aims to investigate the potential connection between in-class BPNs and receptive (consuming content) and productive (producing content) IDLE activities. Data from 472 Kazakhstani EFL students across seven universities were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our findings showed that students with higher overall BPNs engaged more in IDLE activities, particularly those with higher competence in both receptive and productive IDLE, and those with higher autonomy in productive IDLE. Surprisingly, relatedness was not a significant factor in IDLE. Our study offers the first empirical evidence demonstrating a positive link between BPNs and IDLE engagement. Pedagogically, educators can develop strategies aligned with students’ BPNs to enhance their IDLE engagement.

Exploring the group heterogeneity in the impact of social cohesion on the walking frequency of older adults in China

BackgroundWalkable neighborhoods are closely related to an increase in walking frequency and the strengthening of social cohesion. These factors, in turn, contribute to lower BMI and other positive health-related outcomes. However, with a rapid increase in aging populations in China and the fact that women are facing more challenges than men as they age, especially mobility challenges because they tend to live longer leading to probabilities to become widowed. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to understanding the gender difference between these relationships.MethodsBased on a survey of 533 older adults in Dalian, China, this study tried to investigate the intertwined relationship between perceived walkability, social cohesion, walking frequency, and BMI. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) and multiple-group analysis were applied to test the proposed framework.ResultsFirst, results show that gender differences existed among the above interrelationships, and the most substantial gender gap was found in effects of social cohesion on BMI. Second, perceived walkability only has a direct effect (0.149) on walking frequencies for female seniors. Third, although the relationships between perceived walkability and BMI are not directly related in both male and female models, the indirect connection (−0.053) is substituted for female seniors. Besides, the inhibiting effect of walking on BMI, which is −0.511, is also valid for female seniors. Finally, in terms of the role of social cohesion, both the positive impacts of perceived walkability on it (0.225 for males and 0.325 for females) and its promoting effects on walking have been confirmed in male (0.142) and female models (0.103). The negative direct effect of social cohesion on BMI (−0.083) is only confirmed in male seniors.ConclusionInsights derived from this analysis can help bring forward gender-specific interventions to build a more inclusive walkable and social environment to improve the mobility and physical health of older adults.

How the perfectionistic climate of a sports team predicts the athletic performance of elite athletes: a case study of the CUBAL women’s basketball team

ObjectiveIn competitive sports, understanding how the perfectionistic climate within teams influences the performance of elite female athletes can provide valuable insights for enhancing coaching practice and athletic achievement. Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study constructs a dual-path model using stressors and coping strategies as mediators, referred to as the Perfectionistic Climate on Athletic Performance model (PCPM). The study explores the predictive role of the perfectionistic climate within sports teams on the athletic performance of elite female basketball players.MethodsThe empirical study the relationships among the variables in the model using a sample of 125 core players from the top-level women’s basketball teams in the 24th CUBAL24 tournament in 2022. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted using AMOS 20.0, primarily employing the bias-corrected Bootstrap method to test the dual-path model.ResultsThe findings reveal double-edged paths towards a perfectionistic climate on athletic performance. In the positive pathway, a perfectionistic climate can positively predict athletic performance through challenge-related sources of stress and positive coping strategies. In the negative pathway, a perfectionistic climate can negatively predict athletic performance through threat-related sources of stress and negative coping strategies.ConclusionCoaches need to pay attention to athletes’ cognitive evaluations of the perfectionistic climate as a source of pressure. By setting challenging goals, coaches can guide athletes to view the perfectionistic climate of the sports team as a source of challenging pressure, thus unleashing their potential. Coaches should actively guide athletes in coping with the pressure brought about by the perfectionistic climate, enhancing their ability to handle stress. This will enable athletes to better adapt to the team’s perfectionistic climate and further improve individual and team athletic performance.

Peran Faktor Pengaruh Dinamika Organizational Commitment: Mengentaskan Melemahnya Eksistensi UKM Kuliner di Bogor

This research aims to identify and analyze the role and influence of the determinants of organizational commitment dynamics on the continued existence of culinary SMEs in Bogor; against the identified background of the weakening of its existence. Using mixed methods, this study randomly selected 210 samples using SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) and AHP-FAHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process-Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process) analysis techniques. The research results show that perceived organizational support, creativity and employee work motivation are determining factors that have a significant influence on organizational commitment, which ultimately contributes to the resilience and growth of culinary SMEs in Bogor.

Modelling Chinese EFL learners’ engagement in language MOOCs: a control-value perspective

Drawing on the control-value theory, this study attempts to examine the effects of cognitive appraisals (perceived control, intrinsic and extrinsic value) and achievement emotions (pride, anxiety, and boredom) on Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners’ engagement in LMOOCs. In doing so, several hypotheses were proposed and validated from a survey of 520 Chinese EFL undergraduates who used LMOOCs. Based on the structural equation modelling analysis, results revealed that (1) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive and direct impact on engagement in LMOOCs; (2) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive effect on pride and a negative effect on anxiety and boredom, while extrinsic value only had a positive impact on pride and anxiety; (3) while pride had a positive effect on engagement, boredom negatively affected engagement in LMOOCs; (4) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive and indirect effect on engagement mediated by pride and boredom, while extrinsic value positively affected engagement in LMOOCs through pride. Implications regarding the causal relations of cognitive appraisals, achievement emotions, and engagement in LMOOCs have been discussed for further research.

Pull Factors for Event Delegates Moderating Effect Of Cultural Tourism Attraction

This study seeks to explore the pull factors that influence delegates' decision to attend an event. This research also involves the factor of cultural tourism attraction as a moderating variable. It is well known that Yogyakarta as the research location is a city rich in culture, there are many cultural attractions that are favored such as heritage sites, indigenous people's lives, handicraft products, traditional culinary, and a number of other local cultural products. By using Structural Equation Model analysis and involving 190 respondents, namely delegates who attended various events in Yogyakarta, from the results of the study it was found that the pull factors namely accessibility, event organizer (OC), accommodation, venue, price and cultural tourism attraction jointly influenced the decision of delegates to attend the event. Cultural tourism attraction is able to moderate the overall pull factor. The strength of culture that is able to moderate the overall attraction factor indicates that culture is very strong as a novelty event and is a key variable for destinations so that it is attractive to host events.

Knowledge Hiding Behavior in Online Learning Communities: A Chain Mediation Based on Self-Efficacy and Organizational Psychological Ownership

With its flexible and convenient learning methods, rich learning resources and convenient information transmission channels, the online learning community has injected new impetus into the cause of education. However, the open and generative characteristics of the online learning community also preclude learning activities from implementing collective constraints, resulting in the emergence of knowledge hiding behavior. Based on this, researchers have attempted to explore the factors that affect knowledge hiding behavior and to identify the influencing mechanisms. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), this study analyzed a questionnaire on the knowledge hiding behavior of 420 graduate students in online learning communities and found that professional commitment, transformational leadership and a proactive personality have a negative impact on knowledge hiding behavior through self-efficacy and organizational psychological ownership. Based on the model interpretation, this paper suggests that the following aspects should be explored for their potential to diminish knowledge hiding behavior: Assess the proactive personality level of graduate students; the training unit can stimulate students’ self-efficacy in terms of the expected results, rewards, relationships and perceived costs of the individual; the supervisor should establish and improve the knowledge sharing mechanism within the organization; the tutor should strengthen the cultural construction of the scientific research team.