Structural Equation Modeling Software Research Articles

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Building Construction Industry in Nepal

The COVID-19 epidemic has created unprecedented challenges for global economies, affecting every industry, including the building construction industry in Nepal as well. This research aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the building construction industry in Nepal. This study examines institutional, psychological, individual, operational, contractual, and financial factors. To achieve the objective, data were collected from 330 Nepalese construction professionals using a structured Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed with Smart PLS version 3 software for partial least squares structural equation modeling. The reliability and validity of both the measurement and structural models were tested and found satisfactory. All six factors were found to be significant at a 5% level of significance. Among all factors, the institutional factor was found as the most significant factor with a t-value of 7.654 and a beta value of 0.679, emphasizing the crucial role of institutional support in Nepal's building construction industry. The psychological factor also emerged as the second most significant influential factor (t value: 6.087, beta value: 0.463), underscoring the profound effect on the mental well-being of professionals in the field. The finding highlights the critical importance of institutional support and the profound influence of psychological factors on the well-being of construction professionals, necessitating targeted interventions to support the industry's recovery and resilience.

Investigating the Effect of Institution Reputation on Student Loyalty’s Dimensions in the Framework of Relationship Marketing in Higher Education

The intensifying competition among higher education institutions has prompted the adoption of relationship marketing as a strategy to attract and retain students. In this approach, students are viewed as customers, and their satisfaction and loyalty are key factors in a university’s success and profitability. Therefore, creating value for students is essential in this competitive environment. Relationship marketing emphasizes building long-term relationships and interactions with students through effective communication. To identify the essential factors of creating value for students and their loyalty, a questionnaire was distributed among 230 students of Kharazmi and Shahid Beheshti Universities. Further, the antecedents of loyalty were estimated further by using structural equation modeling and AMOS software. This study offers a novel approach by examining two dimensions of student loyalty-recommended and patronage-to provide a more comprehensive understanding of loyalty toward higher education institutions. According to hypotheses, results indicate that the students’ perception of the reputation of the higher education institution has a positive and meaningful relationship with dimensions of loyalty, and students’ perception of the reputation were only affected by the facility variable, and there is no significant relationship with service quality and social activities. The findings provide insights into effective relationship-marketing strategies that higher education institutions can adopt to enhance their reputation and foster greater student loyalty, encouraging both dimensions of loyalty. Universities can promote positive perceptions of institutional reputation and cultivate loyal attitudinal and behavioral tendencies among students by following this approach.

Impact of Sharia hospital service standards and religiosity commitment on patient satisfaction and loyalty: insights from certified Sharia hospital in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to analyze the influence of the dimensions of Sharia hospital service standards, religiosity commitment and trust of Muslim patients on attitudes and satisfaction, as well as the implications of loyalty. Design/methodology/approach This study was carried out by analyzing data obtained from a survey with purposive sampling techniques with 425 patients in an Indonesian-certified Sharia hospital and analyzing it using partial least squares structural equation modeling software to test the path modeling and the relationship between the instruments. Findings This study shows that hospital amenities, doctor’s services, nurses’ services, health-care technicalities and hospital environmental and administrative behavior affect patient satisfaction. In addition, religiosity and trust in encouraging patient attitudes determine patient satisfaction. High satisfaction points will increase loyalty to Sharia hospitals. Research limitations/implications This study encourages managers to maximize the quality of humanist Islamic medical services and the infrastructure of comfortable facilities. In addition, hospitals need to improve their holistic atmosphere, technical services and administrative behavior so that they can become essential value for hospital marketing – the development of competence and ethical behavior of health workers through various training programs internally and externally. Originality/value This study presents the determination of Sharia hospital service standards accompanied by a commitment to religiosity and trust as a psychological perspective of Muslim patients on attitudes and satisfaction and its implications on the brand loyalty of Indonesian Sharia hospitals that have been officially certified.

Influence of corporate social responsibility and ethical leadership on employees' affective commitment: Evidence from the hospitality industry in Vietnam

AbstractThis paper intends to evaluate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethical leadership (EL), job satisfaction (JS), and affective commitment (AC). Filtered and entered Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Amos is a powerful structural equation modeling software helping support research and theories, the data were gathered from 432 participants in Vietnam's hospitality sector. According to study findings, CSR and EL positively impact AC and JS among employees. Moreover, JS is also a vital component that has influenced employees' AC. The study results have managerial implications for improving JS and strengthening the correlation of employees' AC.

Development and Validation of Cloud Applications Usability Development Scale

Cloud computing has revolutionized technology and education by providing scalable virtual resources accessible via the internet. This study emphasizes the importance of usability in cloud services, discussing various scales and metrics while highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It underscores the necessity for a comprehensive usability scale that integrates both subjective and objective measures to suit diverse user scenarios and populations. The article introduces the Cloud Applications/Services Usability Development Scale, comprising five usability dimensions: Capable, Personal, Reliable, Valuable, and Secure. To validate the instrument, factor analysis was performed on 28 items for each construct, utilizing Principal Component Analysis and Varimax Rotation. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s Test were applied to assess sampling adequacy. Construct validity and reliability were scrutinized using AMOS 21, a statistical analysis software for structural equation modeling (SEM). A confirmation factor analysis was employed to assess both converging and discriminating validity. A survey conducted among actual cloud application users, specifically Google Drive users in Lahore’s public libraries, demonstrated the strong construct validity and reliability of the developed instrument. The Cloud Applications/Services Usability Development Scale proved effective in evaluating the usability of cloud-based applications. This study not only contributes valuable insights to the development and validation of usability measurement tools for cloud applications but also addresses a significant gap in local and international literature. Furthermore, it serves as a model for creating and validating measurement tools for cloud services, offering practical implications for usability testing and methodological advancements in the field of cloud computing.

PREEMPTIVE MARKET EXPLOITABILITY: RESOURCE ADVANTAGE THEORY OF COMPETITION PERSPECTIVE

The current study aims to elucidate the critical importance of preemptive market exploitability as a bridging concept for solving the inconsistent findings on the role of entrepreneurial orientation in enhanced marketing performance. Rooted on the resource advantage theory of competition (RAToC), the preemptive move is postulated as a strategic orientation for reaching a competitive positional advantage in the market when supported by a strong entrepreneurial orientation complemented with a solid quality-based differentiation. A survey method was used to collect data after inviting four hundred owner-managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in this study. The structural equation modelling software AMOS tested our proposed hypotheses. The quantitative analysis resulted in accepting the proposed premises with several significant findings. The most important finding is that companies should invest in preemptive market exploitability as a strategic asset for high marketing performance.

Development of a scale for the impact of emotion management on young athletes’ training efficiency

In this study, we developed a scale to evaluate emotion management and its benefits for young athletes in China, and to analyze the impact of emotion management on their training efficiency. Following an extensive literature review, we used AMOS structural equation model software to develop a scale for evaluating the effects and benefits of emotion management on young athletes' training efficiency. Results showed that young athletes' emotion management training and its benefits can be divided into five dimensions: benefit evaluation, emotional cognition, emotion influence, emotion control, and emotion regulation. The internal consistency reliability of the formal scale was 0.895, and the internal consistency reliability of each subscale was between 0.734 and 0.901. The split-half reliability was 0.769, and the split-half reliability of each subscale was between 0.623 and 0.864. The KMO value was 0.904, P = 0.00 (p < 0.05), and the cumulative interpretation rate was 61.782 % of the total variance. The lowest factor load of a scale item was 0.436, and the highest factor load was 0.846. The common degree of all items was between 0.402 and 0.762, indicating that the scale has good validity. A SEM model verified that the scale has good construct validity. Significant correlational differences were observed among the levels. The results of the SEM structural equation model analysis showed that the model's NC = 2.660 (1 < NC < 3 indicates that the model has a simple fit), PGFI = 0.722, PNFI = 0.699, IFI = 0.851, PRA = 0.927, RMR = 0.006, and RMSEA = 0.07, thus, these indexes reached the standard of excellent model fitting. The strongest correlation was found between emotional cognition and benefit evaluation (R = 0.690), and the weakest correlation was found between emotion influence and benefit evaluation (R = 0.079). These findings provide a basis for measuring the effect of emotion management on training efficiency in the training process of young athletes and offer a theoretical reference for their emotional development while in training.

Unveiling the Synergy: How Entrepreneurial Marketing and Product Quality Drive Purchase Decisions through the Lens of Digital Marketing

This study delves into the complex interactions between entrepreneurial marketing, product quality, and digital marketing within Indonesia's dynamic digital marketplace, aiming to decipher their combined impact on purchase decisions. Employing a quantitative causal approach alongside Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Smart PLS software, the research endeavors to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving consumer behavior in this context. Findings indicate that while Entrepreneurial Marketing may not exert a direct influence on purchase decisions, both Product Quality and Digital Marketing play significant roles in shaping consumer choices. Notably, Digital Marketing emerges as a crucial moderating factor, enhancing the effects of Entrepreneurial Marketing and Product Quality on purchase decisions. These results underscore the pivotal role of digital platforms in influencing consumer behavior and preferences. The study provides actionable insights for businesses, advocating for the integration of digital marketing strategies and the promotion of high-quality products to effectively engage online consumers and drive purchasing behavior. While acknowledging limitations such as sample size and generalizability, this research lays the groundwork for future investigations into the nuanced dynamics of digital marketing's impact on marketing strategies and product quality enhancement. Overall, this study contributes to advancing the understanding of digital consumer behavior, emphasizing the transformative potential of digital marketing in today's evolving digital marketplace.

Assessing measurement invariance with moderated nonlinear factor analysis using the R package OpenMx.

Assessing measurement invariance is an important step in establishing a meaningful comparison of measurements of a latent construct across individuals or groups. Most recently, moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) has been proposed as a method to assess measurement invariance. In MNLFA models, measurement invariance is examined in a single-group confirmatory factor analysis model by means of parameter moderation. The advantages of MNLFA over other methods is that it (a) accommodates the assessment of measurement invariance across multiple continuous and categorical background variables and (b) accounts for heteroskedasticity by allowing the factor and residual variances to differ as a function of the background variables. In this article, we aim to make MNLFA more accessible to researchers without access to commercial structural equation modeling software by demonstrating how this method can be applied with the open-source R package OpenMx. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A research proposal to examine psychological factors that influence financial planning for retirement in China

The life expectancy rate of individuals worldwide has risen, and China is not excluded. Combined with an aging population, increasing pressure on the pension fund system, and a lack of savings, it poses a significant challenge to financial security unless measures are taken to improve individuals’ planning and financial well-being in retirement. This study aims to examine the psychological factors that influence individuals' FPR, thereby expanding the explanatory models for retirement savings decisions and behaviors. Using the CWO Model and supported by image Theory and the 3M Model, this research focuses on how the interaction between future time perspective, risk tolerance, retirement goal clarity, subjective financial literacy and objective financial literacy as psychological characteristics influence individuals' FPR. To obtain meaningful results, back translation was used to check the accuracy of the preliminary translation of research instruments. This translation method was also combined with the pretest method of expert reviews and cognitive interviews to increase the validity of the survey questionnaire. A purposive sampling technique will be applied to collect data from adults who are over 23 years old and have a certain income stream in six cities in China. The Structural Equation Modelling software will be used to examine the hypotheses of direct and mediating effects. This study has implications for financial market regulators, policy makers, and consumers. Keywords: CWO model; decision-making; financial planning; financial literacy; psychological factors; retirement

Factors affecting the adoption of digital entrepreneurship: a survey of private schools in Nineveh Governorate in Iraq

Purpose This study aims to determine the factors affecting the adoption of digital entrepreneurship among the pioneers of private schools in the Nineveh Governorate, using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The study seeks to address an academic problem represented by the low level of interest in the research literature on digital entrepreneurship. By contrast, the problem in the field is the failure of several entrepreneurial organizations, in general, and private schools, in particular. Design/methodology/approach The researchers chose the private school sector in the Nineveh Governorate, Republic of Iraq, as the field of study. The targeted individuals represented school founders serving as investors and entrepreneurs, totaling 154 participants. The deductive approach was used as the main research method, with the survey approach as a sub-method. A questionnaire was used for data collection, and the researchers used structural equation modeling software, SmartPLS. Findings The results revealed that constructs such as effort expectation, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention and experience are factors contributing to predicting the transition to digital entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to bridging the academic gap identified in previous research and addresses the spatial gap by focusing on private schools in the Nineveh Governorate. It aims to assess the level of interest in adopting digital leadership within this context. Practical implications One of the most important implications of the results of the current research is the potential expansion of the use of digital entrepreneurship by understanding the behaviors of entrepreneurs. This understanding can have positive outcomes in attracting broad segments of society to engage in this type of work due to its low costs, low risks and the absence of the need for practicing licenses. Such an expansion could contribute to the establishment of digital pioneering projects aimed at reducing unemployment in society. Additionally, this study offers insights that can guide policymakers in the country toward establishing digital business incubators that provide a suitable work environment for initiating and supporting such projects. Originality/value The current study presents a unique contribution, represented by using the UTAUT, to identify the acceptance of digital entrepreneurship in private schools in Iraq. This can bring benefits to entrepreneurs and educational policymakers in the country.

Psychosocial Adjustment Factors Associated with Child-Parent Violence: The Role of Family Communication and a Transgressive Attitude in Adolescence.

According to official sources, the amounts of children-to-parent violence (CPV) in most advanced countries have been on an increasing trend for more than a decade, which generates great social concern. This phenomenon has also aroused enormous interest among researchers, who have identified risk and protective factors related to adolescent CPV in numerous studies. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between offensive family communication and CPV in adolescence, and the moderating role that two psychosocial adjustment factors may be playing: a positive attitude towards the transgression of rules and psychological distress. A total of 7787 adolescents between 11 and 16 years of age (M = 13.37, SD = 1.34) from secondary schools in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico) participated in the study (51.5% boys, 48.5% girls). Structural equation modelling was performed using structural equation modelling software (EQS). The results showed that offensive family communication has a direct and significant relationship with CPV. It was also observed that there is an indirect relationship between both variables, through the relationships of psychological distress and a positive attitude towards the transgression of rules. The multigroup analysis performed showed gender differences in some of these relationships. Finally, the results and their implications in the field of family intervention are discussed.

Best practices for your confirmatory factor analysis: A JASP and lavaan tutorial.

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is a fundamental method for evaluating the internal structural validity of measurement instruments. In most CFA applications, the measurement model serves as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. To select the appropriate model, prior validity evidence is crucial, and items are typically assessed on an ordinal scale, which has been used in the applied social sciences. However, textbooks on structural equation modeling (SEM) often overlook this specific case, focusing on applications estimable using maximum likelihood (ML) instead. Unfortunately, several popular commercial SEM software packages lack suitable solutions for handling this 'typical CFA', leading to confusion and suboptimal decision-making when conducting CFA in this context. This article conceptually contributes to this ongoing discussion by presenting a set of guidelines for conducting a typical CFA, drawing from recent empirical research. We provide a practical contribution by introducing and developing a tutorial example within the JASP and lavaansoftware platforms. Supplementary materials such as videos, files, and scripts are freely available.

Awareness On Online Financial Scams: A Case Study in Malaysia

Malaysia has seen an increase in digitization in almost all aspects of its people's daily lives, especially in the usage of online banking or e-wallet transactions. However, a rise in online financial scams in Malaysia has been reported recently. People have become unaware of the transparency of their information as a result of their reliance on the Internet. This study aims to identify the awareness on online financial scam in Malaysia using the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory (TTAT) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Independent variables included are cybersecurity knowledge, perceived severity, subjective norm, as well as security and privacy concerns. The data collection method in this study is primary data and 384 sets survey questionnaires were collected. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) software was used to generate the statistical analysis. The results showed that cybersecurity knowledge, perceived severity, and subjective norm have a significant relationship with the awareness on online financial scam, while security and privacy concerns have an insignificant relationship with the awareness on online financial scam. This study will provide an insight for Malaysians, particularly companies, and policymakers so that they can better understand the ways to increase awareness on online financial scam.

The Influence of the Quality of the Inspectorat Jenderal Auditor, Accountability and Controlling of the Quality of Finansial Statement Jakarta Provicial Goverment

This research was conducted to determine the Quality of Auditor Itjen, accountability and controling of The Quality of Finansial Statement Jakarta Province. This study makes the Inspektorat Statement Jakarta Province as the population. The sample of this research uses 45 espondents were willing to become samples in Inspektorat Statement Jakarta Province. Data were processed using smartPLS SEM (Partial Least Square – Structural Equation Modeling) software and analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that Quality of Auditor Itjen, Accountability and Controling have a positive effect on the quality of Finansial Statement Jakarta Province.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ACCOUNTING AMONG MICRO, SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES)

This study investigated the factors that influence the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in accounting among Malaysian Micro, Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It focused on three factors based on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework, and the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. The factors examined include compatibility, complexity, security and privacy, top management support, business strategy support, organizational resources, business market structure, competitive pressure, and government regulations. A quantitative approach was employed to collect data which were then analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) software. The study’s findings indicate that compatibility, top management support, business strategy support, organizational resources, business market structure, competitive pressure, and government regulations significantly impact AI adoption in MSMEs. However, the study did not find significant influences of complexity as well as security and privacy on AI adoption of Malaysian MSMEs. In conclusion, this study’s findings offer valuable insights on how organizations can effectively navigate these factors to achieve successful AI adoption in their accounting practices.

Antecedents of knowledge management: The case of professional employees in Indonesia

This study aims to evaluate and test the impact of knowledge, trust, unity, and self-efficacy on knowledge management of employees in Indonesian businesses in the education sector. This empirical study also examines the relationship between knowledge management among employees in Indonesian education sector businesses and conformity through knowledge self-efficacy, trust, and unity. A quantitative causality technique was employed in the study using a sample of workers from Indonesian companies involved in the education sector (at least 35 years old and engaged). The primary data consisted of 220 replies from respondents with varying educational backgrounds. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling software was used to analyze the data. The Likert scale is used to determine each answer’s value. Empirical evidence shows that knowledge self-efficacy does not affect the knowledge management of employees in these companies (T Statistics = 0.992); on the other hand, knowledge self-efficacy influences conformity, harmony, and confidence, which in turn affects the knowledge management of employees in these companies. The indirect effect demonstrates that agreement can moderate the influence of knowledge self-efficacy on the knowledge management of employees in these companies (T Statistics = 5,959); conversely, conformity mediates the strong impact of trust on the knowledge management of employees in these businesses. The empirical results show that employees need to have a high level of knowledge for diverse expertise to function well. Conversely, trust will make people more eager to share their information. Lack of confidence might impede the dissemination of knowledge. Acknowledgment We acknowledge the partial publication funding provided by Indonesia school of Economic (STIESIA), Surabaya, Indonesia

Cognitive and Affective Components Induced Impulsive Purchase: An Empirical Analysis

The paper aims to empirically investigate the role of price-related marketing stimuli and the visual appeal of the user interface (UI) on online impulse buying. The mediating effects of cognitive and affective components, which are influenced by price-related and visual-appeal UI, on online impulse buying are checked. A survey-based research design was employed by floating the structured questionnaire among 370 respondents in both online and offline modes. These responses were further analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) and AMOS software. The result of the study indicated that affective shopping behavior, visual appeal of the website, and cognitive shopping behavior significantly influence online impulsive buying compared to price-related stimuli. Though the direct effect of price-related stimuli on online shopping is insignificant, its indirect effect via affective shopping behavior is highly significant. Meanwhile, the website’s visual appeal, directly and indirectly, affects online shopping behavior. It was also found that affective shopping behavior fully mediates between price-related marketing stimuli and online impulsive buying. In contrast, cognitive shopping behavior is partially mediated by the visual appeal of UI and online impulsive buying. The research results direct that people may engage in online impulsive buying mainly due to affective shopping behavior and the visual appeal of the UI, but at the same time, they are equally price conscious.

SUFFICIENCY OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN SME: EVOLUTION OF SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Objective: This research aimed to explore the concept of sustainable competitive advantage concept in small medium-sized enterprise (SME) with collaborative capability and entrepreneur resilience as a mediating variable. It examined the relationship between human capital owned by entrepreneurs and sustainable competitive advantage with a focus on the woven sector, one of the largest tourism-supporting sectors in Bali. Method: entrprenereurs of SMEs in Bali, Indonesia completed 333 surveys, with each construct measured using an adopted and modified scale from existing studies. Additional analyses were performed on the collected data using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS_SEM) software. These analyses included regression, factor analysis, structural equation modelling with the boostrapping technique, reliability, validity, mediation and model fit indicates. Result: The results showed that the human capital of the entrepreneurs, which consisted of education and experience, cannot be a source of sustainable competitive advantage in SME due to low education levels and minimal experience in managing businesses. On the other hand, collaborative capability is one of capabilities needed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage because it helps overcome resource limitations and internal capability by collaborating with external parties. Furthermore, another dynamic capability needed is entrepreneur resilience which can help in dealing with environmental turbulence. This research further supports this assertion by showing a full mediation relationship, implying that the human capital of entrepreneurs is insufficient for SME to attain sustainable competitive advantage, necessitating collaborative capability and entrepreneur resilience as a mediating factor to achieve this objective.

Unravelling the Impact of Financial Literacy on the Intention of Indian Retail Investors to Adopt Socially Responsible Investments: The Interplay of Social Self-Efficacy as a Mediating Mechanism

In the context of the escalating socio-economic disparities and environmental concerns, this study delves into the intricate interplay among financial literacy (FL), social self-efficacy (SSE) and intentions for socially responsible investment (SRI). Grounded firmly in the theory of planned behaviour, a survey of 235 Indian participants was conducted employing a meticulously structured questionnaire and leveraging Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling software for robust data analysis. The research addresses pivotal questions, examining the impact of FL on fostering positive SRI attitudes, appraising the influence of subjective norms (SNs) on the intentions of Indian investors regarding SRI, and exploring the mediating role of SSE between FL and SRI intentions. The findings underscore the substantive role of FL in shaping positive attitudes towards SRI, exerting a direct influence on SRI propensities. Concurrently, SNs exert a comparable impact on SRI intentions. Notably, the study unravels a dual mediation paradigm, elucidating the sequential mediation of SRI attitude and SSE. The study yields pragmatic implications for fund managers and policymakers. It accentuates the strategic imperative of effective communication of investment benefits, necessitating tailored approaches attuned to cognitive and psychosocial orientations. In essence, the study augments our understanding of the nuanced dynamics guiding sustainable investment decisions, thereby advancing the comprehension of investor behaviour in the domain of responsible investing.